It was some cheeky fun times at Toronto Fringe last night, as the Al Green Theatre (750 Spadina Ave., southwest corner of Bloor St. West and Spadina) was transformed into Babylon, a burlesque cabaret featuring the music of hot local Toronto bands and even hotter dancers. This is Becoming Burlesque, written/produced by Jackie English, co-directed by English and Sebastien “Toro” Marziali, and choreographed by Pastel Supernova.
When a high kick goes awry and a dancer is injured, a helpful female audience member who retrieves a stray costume piece finds herself with a new job when the girls take her under their collective wing. Starting as a kitten (the gal who strikes discarded costume bits), she learns how to walk in heels and work the revealing costume, eventually finding herself in the middle of a dance number. Caught up in the choreography, she’s a natural – and her burlesquification continues under the watchful, supportive eye of her new family until graduation day – and the kitten grows up and gets a feature spot of her own.
Becoming Burlesque features scenes/choreography from Pastel Supernova’s upcoming indie film Love Letters Cabaret (the live cabaret of the same name runs at Lula Lounge). Featuring fabulous and entertaining performances from Kasia Rheann aka Minou, Amber-Kelly Mackereth aka Azura, Knox Harter, Julie McLaughlin aka Revel, Sweet Rosie Me, Thrasher and Liana Lewis aka Petra – and English as the new girl – Becoming Burlesque treats the audience to some hot good times, with scintillating moves, and plenty of opportunities to whoop and woot their appreciation of the performances. These women come in all shapes and sizes – and all are beautiful.
It’s some big, sexy, saucy fun as one unsuspecting young woman gets her tassels on in Becoming Burlesque.
Becoming Burlesque has one more performance at the Al Green Theatre: today (Sun, July 12) at 4:00 p.m. So get yourselves down there and cheer on the girls! The house was packed last night, so if you haven’t pre-booked your ticket, you best get your pretty butts to the venue box office early.
life with more cowbell 