As he walked down the dark block towards Gallery 5, he thought about what this evening had in store for him. He’d never been to one of these things and there were some apprehensions as to what to expect. He joined the growing line there on Marshall. He noticed the myriad of people and thought this was a whole new scene for him. He seemed a bit nervous there, slowly inching his way up the line.
As he walked down the dark block towards Gallery 5, he thought about what this evening had in store for him. He’d never been to one of these things and there were some apprehensions as to what to expect. He joined the growing line there on Marshall. He noticed the myriad of people and thought this was a whole new scene for him. He seemed a bit nervous there, slowly inching his way up the line. He could hear music from an era gone by, and as he entered the venue he noticed quite a gathering. He made his way to his seat and observed the din of the audience. Excitement was in the air as they all geared up for the show that was upon them.
The lights dimmed. The music began. Who is this?! Is that… is that Mother Goose? No, it’s something way better. It’s the hostesses of all hostesses, Miss Magnolia Pickett Jackson Burnside, dressed as Mother Goose. She even laid a golden egg which, when opened, was a bottle of Jack Daniels. He laughed heartily as she introduced herself in all her Southern charm. Little did he know, this burlesque virgin was in for a night chockfull of humor, seduction, and frivolity. How does one make nursery rhymes this playful?
His eyes affixed on the stage, he is transfixed by the sparkling mermaid, Deepa De Jour, presenting what is probably one of the most seductive numbers he’s ever seen. She sways her fishlike tale to and fro; he follows her every movement, as though hypnotized by the sirens of yore. Deepa’s magic lies in her eyes and her alluring smile. His mouth gapes slightly as her fans ripple and she slowly swims right out of her scales. Yes, yes, his eve was off to a glorious start.
The Good Ship Lollipop was where he wanted to be as Miss Scarlet Starlet dazzled him with her baton skills. He then wanted to take a trip to Japan where he would find the exotic delights of Glamouria Feng, but then that delight might be too exotic, as Miss Feng seemed to have a surprise under that obi. Traveling from Norfolk, Miss Lily Liqueur would not only make him nostalgic for Marilyn, but she would captivate him with a beautiful fan dance upon her return. He could see she had an understanding of the theater and the art of the slow tease, which made him a little squirmy as he sipped on his wine. He wanted to come home to producer Sally von Streusel, as she made quite the prancing housewife. He would then take on the beauty of Miss Indy Go Go as she went from being on “pointe” to being downright funky, ditching her white stallion to reveal what was really under that tutu. Deepa came back to take him under the sea with an enchanting jellyfish number. Once upon a time there was a prince… Charming was his name. Mr. Chris Chaos, ahem… Charming, would end the show. Surprisingly pretty with his perfectly waxed stache, he awakened Sally with a heroic performance!
As the show ended, he sat there applauding wildly. He hooted and hollered. He saw all the girls and boys march back on the stage for their final goodbyes and he felt entertained beyond his expectations. This Little Show Peep gave him his first peek into a world of live entertainment of magical proportions. He felt a connected with the audience as they cheered loudly with approval. This was a classic burlesque show, and he felt just as much a part of it as the entertainers themselves. As he walked down the same dark block back to the car, he thought of the fun he had, but also how each performer tantalized. He slowly put the key into the ignition and as he drove off into the night. He couldn’t help but recite “Little Bo Peep.” He definitely liked those sheep!
By Lady J
