As I’ve mentioned before, my personal challenge this year, beyond trying to feel more comfortable in my own sensuality, has been to try to successfully marry the erotic and the inane. I’m very proud of this act because I think it is the closest I’ve come to achieving both past influences and a fusion of other talents.
At this point I had been doing research about comedians from the early 20th century. I was hoping to learn enough that I could maybe teach a 4 part workshop on them. Interesting for me to learn probably means its interesting enough for other people, right? It was then that I stumbled on THIS clip from Charlie Chaplin’s, “The Great Dictator.” I couldn’t believe it! This, in my mind, is the absolute GREATEST PIECE OF COMEDY EVER!!! You have to watch it to believe.
Thanks to this gem, I realized that I haven’t seen any BQ comedy done with a ballon act and thought it would be a good challenge. So what could a balloon be if not a ballon? An egg? YES! Chicken time!!! Homage to my home sweet home with the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society. While we are trying to create things we haven’t seen before, how about a rubber glove dress?? YES!! I asked Melody Mangler to help with the completion of this outfit. I’ve learnt to sew, but I’ve also learnt about time management. I commissioned her to sew the outer layer and managed to do the rest on my own. HURRAH NEW SKILLS! I wanted the gloves to read as a tribute to the DIY nature of Burlesque. I’ve since added several gross of swarovskis to almost satirize the extremes of modern Burlesque costuming.
The first part of the number was to be an homage to baggy pants comedians of yesteryear. I recently learnt from Portland based performer Rusty Trombone (I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM) that the kind of dancing I have been struggling to find out more about is called Legomania. Now we all know!!! And the second was to be about combining the eroticism and hilarity.
This act was festering in my brain for a long time and it took a long time before it was ready to perform. The main reasons being I had a concept for a costume that took awhile for me to afford and create. I’m really happy with the results and can definitely appreciate the need to sometimes take the time to create something of quality. My reward was being able to perform 6 different times for our run at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. I also felt lucky that I had the opportunity to try it out so many times and see what worked and what didn’t in front of a live audience. I am really happy that the act feels seamless. There is no boring waits (I think) Just the right amount of dance and tease, and enough comedy to break the tension of the second song. I have had some great feedback from Madame Mae I about putting a smaller yellow balloon inside my big ballon so it looks like an egg yolk that I’m excited to try- Regardless I hope you enjoy!!!
At this point I had been doing research about comedians from the early 20th century. I was hoping to learn enough that I could maybe teach a 4 part workshop on them. Interesting for me to learn probably means its interesting enough for other people, right? It was then that I stumbled on THIS clip from Charlie Chaplin’s, “The Great Dictator.” I couldn’t believe it! This, in my mind, is the absolute GREATEST PIECE OF COMEDY EVER!!! You have to watch it to believe.
Thanks to this gem, I realized that I haven’t seen any BQ comedy done with a ballon act and thought it would be a good challenge. So what could a balloon be if not a ballon? An egg? YES! Chicken time!!! Homage to my home sweet home with the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society. While we are trying to create things we haven’t seen before, how about a rubber glove dress?? YES!! I asked Melody Mangler to help with the completion of this outfit. I’ve learnt to sew, but I’ve also learnt about time management. I commissioned her to sew the outer layer and managed to do the rest on my own. HURRAH NEW SKILLS! I wanted the gloves to read as a tribute to the DIY nature of Burlesque. I’ve since added several gross of swarovskis to almost satirize the extremes of modern Burlesque costuming.
The first part of the number was to be an homage to baggy pants comedians of yesteryear. I recently learnt from Portland based performer Rusty Trombone (I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM) that the kind of dancing I have been struggling to find out more about is called Legomania. Now we all know!!! And the second was to be about combining the eroticism and hilarity.
This act was festering in my brain for a long time and it took a long time before it was ready to perform. The main reasons being I had a concept for a costume that took awhile for me to afford and create. I’m really happy with the results and can definitely appreciate the need to sometimes take the time to create something of quality. My reward was being able to perform 6 different times for our run at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. I also felt lucky that I had the opportunity to try it out so many times and see what worked and what didn’t in front of a live audience. I am really happy that the act feels seamless. There is no boring waits (I think) Just the right amount of dance and tease, and enough comedy to break the tension of the second song. I have had some great feedback from Madame Mae I about putting a smaller yellow balloon inside my big ballon so it looks like an egg yolk that I’m excited to try- Regardless I hope you enjoy!!!
