Combining humor, holiday spirit and glittered pasties, Byrlesque at the Byrd, “Holidays at the Movies” was an evening to entertain. On Sunday, Dec. 2, Deanna Danger, Bitsy Buttons, and many more took to the stage at the historic Byrd Theatre for a night of burlesque.
Combining humor, holiday spirit and glittered pasties, Byrlesque at the Byrd, “Holidays at the Movies” was an evening to entertain. On Sunday, Dec. 2, Deanna Danger, Bitsy Buttons, and many more took to the stage at the historic Byrd Theatre for a night of burlesque.
Ken Penn
Before the show began, Bob Gulledge and the Mighty Wurlitzer organ entertained the crowd with classic holiday tunes to get the audience in the mood for a night of holiday magic, despite the unseasonably warm weather. Vaudevillian Mark Slomski hosted the evening of burlesque, boylesque, polesque, and vaudeville performances with the help of The Filmroasters, a pair of bitter, mocking, old men who heckled Slomski from their seats in a front balcony box, and ended up giving the night four middle fingers up.
Ken Penn
After a montage of some favorite holiday movies, The Slomski Cabaret, featuring Mark Slomski and Bitsy Buttons, opened the show with a humorous vaudevillian act to introduce the stage kittens. Following their act, Washington D.C. native Cherie Sweetbottom began the evening of burlesque with a vintage inspired performance to the holiday classic song, “White Christmas.”
Dave Parrish
The festively named Gigi Holiday was described as “chocolate that will melt your heart” by Slomski. Her performance of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was fabulous, complete with a red nose and a glittered red thong and pasties, which came as a surprise to the audience.
Ken Penn
Buster Britches continued the evening with the only boylesque, or male burlesque, routine of the night. Buster Britches and Bitsy Buttons played Charlie Brown and Lucy from The Peanuts gang as one of the more humorous performances. Their act included the psychiatric help desk and, to keep the seductive feelings alive, lights on Buster Britches’ boxers acted as the star atop the tree.
Dave Parrish
Boom Boom Basics Burlesque and Performing Arts Studio debuted their first official group dance troupe, The Boomettes. The troupe consists of students and graduates of the studio. Their vaudevillian dance routine to “Jingle Bells” was a welcome change from the burlesque acts that came before.
Debra Johnson
After intermission and another montage of holiday movies scenes, including “Elf”, “National Lampoon,” and my personal favorite, “Mean Girls,” the night of burlesque continued with Richmond natives The Muse, Deanna Danger, and The Red Huntress as the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Even without the rest of the story of Scrooge to accompany the dancers, their performances were still a wonderful retelling of the famous tale.
Ken Penn
Bianca Dupree offered a new twist on an old holiday favorite, which is played on television for 24 hours straight on Christmas day: A Christmas Story. Dressed as the famous leg lamp, she offers a new twist on burlesque with her incorporation of pole dancing, to create polesque. Her routine includes a series of gravity defying poses set to music, as well as a bit where she got her tongue stuck to the pole.
Ken Penn
The finale of the night gave three ladies the chance to “fan the flames of burlesque,” according to Slomski. The Wanderlust Agreement, which includes the talented trio of Deanna Danger, The Red Huntress, and The Muse, performed as wind-up dolls in a burlesque version of “The Nutcracker.” There could not have been a better way to end a night of classic holidays songs and traditions.
Debra Johnson
All in all, Byrlesque at the Byrd’s special presentation of Holidays at the Movies was a wonderfully different and refreshing way to start the holiday season.
Debra Johnson
Check out Todd Raviotta’s photoanimatronic video of the entire evening’s events below!
Byrlesque at the Byrd Holidays at the Movies from Todd Raviotta on Vimeo.
