Young Lust - Hot & Heavy Burlesque rebuilds The Wall
While I cannot prove this, I am pretty certain the last thing on Roger Waters’ troubled mind when writing The Wall over 30 years ago was a cast of nubile and acrobatic performers artfully stripping to the strains of “Comfortably Numb.” If so, the whole piece might’ve taken a decidedly less nihilistic tone. Regardless of Waters’ intentions (working through daddy issues, rock star issues, intra-band issues, etc.), it turns out that, among its many virtues, The Wall makes a great soundtrack for the art of burlesque.
Returning for the second year in a row, Hot & Heavy Burlesque’s tribute to Pink Floyd’s bleak opus The Wall is a highly creative interpretation of the 1979 classic. Borrowing elements from the (then) double-LP, live concert, and 1982 film, the show builds its own sensual (and yet still twisted) energy. All the familiar motifs are here: the marching hammers, gas masks, military/neo-Nazi regalia, and Gerald Scarfe-like projections onto the, yes, wall. But there are also plenty of original ideas to match the teasing and titillation throughout.
Even as Roger Waters himself continues to tour with a re-vamped (yet still powerfully relevant) staging of his most classic work, there is still room for alternate, and even fun, productions like this one. While one wouldn’t normally think of burlesque in association with Pink Floyd’s music (unlike, say, that of Mötley Crüe), the two make a better fit than expected. Both rely on theatricality for maximum impact. Burlesque has a far longer, and just as colorful, history as rock and roll. And there are stretches of The Wall that pulsate with a sinister, yet sexy menace: the intro to “Empty Spaces,” the cock rock of “Young Lust,” the stomping rhythm and descending chord progression of “Run Like Hell”. And David Gilmour’s elegiac guitar tone and plaintive vocals are well-matched with some of the more sensitive interpretations in the show (the loneliness behind the performer’s mask for “Hey You”).
Largely the brainchild of “Horror and Metal Burlesque Performer” Viva La Muerte, Hot & Heavy Burlesque delivers a tasteful, creative, and fun experience. While there is ample nudity throughout, the production sticks to more of an old-school burlesque aesthetic (the art of the tease instead of blunt exhibitionism). And the cast for this year’s production is diverse in appearance (not your typically uniform, ultra hard-bodied Vegas types). With names such as Rosie Cheeks, Holly Wouldn’t, Donna Touch, and the acrobatic group Nuts ‘n’ Cherries, you’d be well-advised to check any seriousness at the door. The group manages to infuse playfulness and tongue-in-cheek humor to “The Happiest Days of our Lives”/”Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” and “Empty Spaces”/”Young Lust” (the ‘80s “sexercise” trio had the look and attitude spot-on). That said (and without revealing too much), there were also quietly affecting moments in “The Thin Ice,” “Don’t Leave Me Now,” “Nobody Home” and many others.
If you are looking for a different spin on Floyd or a highly imaginative burlesque production with an awesome soundtrack, then make the time for the 2nd run of Hot & Heavy Burlesque’s tribute to The Wall. Just make sure to leave the kids with a sitter.
Currently playing Fridays and Saturdays through January 22nd at the Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL. For more information, go to vivalamuerte.us or viaducttheatre.com.
Tenn With Jenn: Viva La Muerte of Hot and Heavy Burlesque
I know, I’m so open minded. Not a snap judgment maker at all…
Well slap my face and call me Zsa Zsa while serving me up some hot steaming crow… because turns out I was wrong, and this was genius. Gritty, artistic, different and most of all FUN. This was actually better than the movie, and intrigued me to learn more about Hot and Heavy Burlesque. So I caught up with its creator Viva La Muerte (of course she doesn’t have a boring name like Jane Parker!) to get the scoop on this unique experience.
1. So first off, give us your definition of “burlesque” because people think it’s just stripping, or it’s something like the Pussycat Dolls. What is it really? Dance? Smut? Art?
VLM: True burlesque to me is anything but a regular strip like you might see in a strip club, and definitely not anything like what you see the pussycat dolls doing. A regular strip at a club or a pussy cat dolls thing in my opinion do very little to involve the KEY element of burlesque which is the art of the TEASE, that type stuff just sort of "puts it all out there at once" for you to see. It's very wham-bam all the sexual goodies in your face, but no mystery, no build up, and not a lot of artistic merit beyond the very blatant sexual appeal. When we are talking burlesque, we are talking about girls who spend hours rehearsing and costuming so that when they are on stage they are giving a full on performance that may be a parody on something, or involve a storyline or character. Throughout the performance the audience is teased and titillated little by little as items of clothing come off, and the audience is yearning for that little peek at the end when the 'big reveal' happens. You give the audience that little taste they want, but always leave them wanting and dreaming of more.
2. Your tribute shows are pretty neat. I saw video of “The Wall” and it was pretty spot on. You recently put on Spinal Tap, and Dio is coming up. How do you decide on a body of work? What does it need to have to incorporate it into a burlesque show?
VLM: Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy our shows! From the start I wanted Hot & Heavy burlesque to go beyond the standard burlesque revue and have a theme and purpose for which we are well known which is Hard Rock/Heavy Metal and Horror Movie inspired shows. Metal and Horror are two of my biggest influences and inspirations in life, and Hot & Heavy burlesque is the brainchild which I use to express my passion for metal music and horror films. To make it a burlesque show is pretty easy, because we take what the old concept of burlesque was which is a variety style show and modernize it. We usually offer more than just stripping, and shows have had anything from singing to hooping to fire and live music weaved in with the burlesque acts. A well rounded show is very important to the Hot & Heavy mission!
3. What is the ultimate dream and goal for Hot And Heavy Burlesque. Headlining Vegas? Headlining National tour? What are you looking to break into?
VLM: I would LOVE to do a national tour, we are actually working now on taking our Pink Floyd or Spinal Tap show out of state this summer, it's really exciting! It's my hope that we can gain more national attention for our shows, and have people that want to bring us to their town. Vegas is definitely on the list too! I also love working with live bands, and in the future I'd also like to perform with some bigger acts at their shows. The sky is definitely the limit!
4. Ok, fantasize with me… the big break. Everyone in Hollywood wants to be in HAHB. Do you have guest stars? Why or why not? Is that “selling out" to go Hollywood?
VLM: If any big names want to come share the stage with us, that's fine by me as long as they have the moves! I don't think it would be selling out to involve a big, well known name in one of our shows. Or if someone "Hollywood" wanted to fund a project for us, I certainly wouldn't turn it away. To me the most important thing would be to remain true to our show style and the level of performance I require from people that work with my show. We have had local guest stars, but no one big and national yet. I'm sure that's on the horizon for us though.
5. Who would be the dream celebrity to have as a guest? You can’t say Dita Von Teese, because it’s a gimme. Who would be amazing in your show that you may not think of as “burlesque?” Who needs a set of tassels?
VLM: I'd put tassels on everyone if I could! haha Funny thing is speaking of Dita, I think she would be too classic for one of our shows, so I may pass on her. Shocker, I know! It would be fun to have someone famous who seems more quiet and sophisticated do one of our shows, maybe Natalie Portman? I bet she would totally rock it! Or Grace Jones, that would be rad!
6. Three words that describe the Hot And Heavy Burlesque experience
VLM: Rock Opera Madness
7. What do you think of shows like So You Think You can Dance, and America’s Got Talent. Burlesque dancers have been featured in the past, would this be a vehicle for your troupe? Why or why not?
VLM: I've not really watched a lot of either show, but I do appreciate when burlesque performers have a chance to shine on a big national stage being on TV. It always make me proud when I see another performer do something big like that. As for our troupe ever breaking into a mainstream TV type dance show, it would be fun to do, but somehow I don't think the mainstream american TV audience is ready for our kind of heavy metal type show.
8. The one thing off limits in a burlesque show is _____.
VLM: I like to give my performers as much creative freedom as they need in my shows. As long as they stick to our heavy metal theme and song choices, I love to let them go free. As far as off limits, I never like to allow anything that is to overtly sexual or pornographic. There always needs to be tease and mystery to H&H performances. Not just some girl grinding and touching herself, or bringing out a box of dildos to toss around and do a regular strip club style dance, and definitely nothing crazy like penetration on stage (I know this happens at some shows in other parts of the country). That won't fly, it needs to be creative and tasteful so that our audience feels comfortable watching the show.
9. What kind of training do you guys do? Is there like a Burlesque Boot Camp, like the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders?
VLM: I would love a burlesque boot camp, that sounds fun! But there isn't anything like that out there at the moment. There are a few instructors in town that teach burlesque, and many newer performers take advantage of these fun classes. For more established performers like me I stick to a pretty rigorous rehearsal schedule that includes nearly daily practices of my acts, and watching a lot of footage online to learn from and going to as many shows as I can to keep up on what other performers are doing. There are even some instructional DVD's available that are pretty helpful for technique. It's a lot of rehearsal and studying your craft and history. Many people also take regular dance lessons like ballet or jazz to keep a good repertoire of dance moves.
10. If _____ showed up at one of your shows, you would freak out with star struck-ness.
VLM: Roger Waters, if you are reading this there is a front row seat for you when we do our tribute to The Wall when it starts again in January! I also wouldn't mind if the Red Hot Chili Peppers rolled up, John Frusciante may also have a front row seat! :)
Check out Hot and Heavy’s website for more info on upcoming shows
www.myspace.com/hotandheavyburlesque
Hot and Heavy Burlesque’s Tribute to Spinal Tap
June 4-6
Viaduct Theatre
3111 N. Webster
Chicago, Il
viaducttheater.com
Vivalamuerte.us
(for more info)
Flaming Dames in “Bump and Grindhouse”
With the re-emergence of burlesque, The Flaming Dames have put their own stamp on the exotic, vaudevillian art made famous in the early 20th century. Led by choreographer Leslie Kerrigan, the burlesque troupe known as The Flaming Dames bring their unique B-Horror homage to life in their new production, “Bump and Grindhouse”.
