Marie Antoinette, having removed layers of panties and what appears to be a sock monkey, has done splits onto a cake and is spinning on her back in the frosting, limbs in the air.
It will be hard to top this routine by Australia’s Imogen Kelly, but that sentiment follows nearly every act at the 2011 Burlesque Hall of Fame’s Tournament of Tease where burlesque performers compete in front of a lively audience in the Orleans showroom. You pity the five judges charged with deciding which of the 33 outlandishly clever acts is worthy of a winning title.
By night’s end, the four-hour competition will have included hula hoops, aerial rings, a pleather body suit, appliances, jugglers, a trumpet, rolling coat racks, water skis, umbrellas, stilettos, magicians, hard hats, a mustached octopus, countless garter belts, sequined gowns, athleticism, booty shaking talent, cabaret-style fun and, well, cake.
In between all of that you have emcee Miss Astrid, the eye-patched wit spewing her wickedly, hilariously lewd commentary with a thick German accent:
“I like it. It’s sort of a ‘Yes, we can can.’”
“And here, I thought he was just a sweet piece of ass.”
“People feel a little funky in the pants, don’t they?”
“Lady boner. Is that accurate English?”
“They call themselves a vegetable patch of high-flying snatch.”
After a brief appearance by the Gazillionaire and Penny from Absinthe, a performance by Roxi D Lite, who was Miss Exotic World 2010, and a slideshow review of Evil Hate Monkey’s ambassadorship year as Best Boylesque 2010 (which included putting an end to Bin Laden and other political feats), winners were announced:
Reigning Queen of Burlesque 2011: Miss Indigo Blue
Reigning King of Burlesque: Captain Kidd
Best Debut: LouLou D’Vil
Best Group: Stage Door Johnnies
Most Dazzling: Captain Kidd
Most Classic: Miss Indigo Blue
Most Comical: The Dolls of Doom
Most Innovative: Jett Adore
We can hardly wait for next year.
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