2 out of 3 ain't bad!!

This will take pride of place on my Wall of Bling

On 23rd March at the Phoenix in Auckland, I had the awesome job of co-hosting the NZ Burlesque Industry Awards (also known as The Golden Garters).
It was an amazing night! Performances by Pixie Twist, Lilith LaLune, Anglebert Humpermink and the Roaring Antoinettes. Co-Host Mae de la Rue from Sydney and I did a fun duet version of Razzle Dazzle 'Em.
It was so much fun collaborating with Mae - we had dinner together during the previous week and planned shenanigans! Photos will be forthcoming soon we hope!

The fabulous Mae de la Rue from Sydney won Honorary Kiwi!

 And I am very, very honoured to receive the award for Favourite MC 2019. It will join the 2017 award for the same on my Red Wall of Bling. And the 2018 award Clever Hansel and I received for Favourite Non-Striptease Routine. I was nominated for favourite MC that year too, so two out of three ain't bad!

The 2019 award for Favourite Non-Striptease act went to my darling friend Mr Lola Illusion for his delicious Lola in Love.

The whole schedule of winners is here on the NZ Burly Awards website.

Savage Times in Whanganui

On December 8th, Leo, Clever and I performed the moving feast that is "At Home" in Whanganui. It is a charming town about three hours from Wellington with the joy of a river running through it (I do love a river town) and some humdinger vintage architecture to boot.
As is our way, we had an idea about losing the Family Money in a series of unfortunate investments, mostly a Taxidermy Theme Park. With Vollercoaster, Furry Go round and Furris Wheel.
and thusly between our Napier debut and this show, I got to work on an appropriate gown. Leopard print trimmed in fake fur, with this fetching hair piece. Matched at the back by the butt end of the wee stuffed toy sacrificed for Art. I love it so much I am going to try to find smaller ones to make sets for people with less hair real estate then I have.
We had a mad evening where it became clear early on that the audience wanted to hear songs not banter, and preferably not too risque. So at half time a whole section of songs got cut in favour of a couple of fun but safer options. This is what I love about live entertainment!

Them as loved it LOVED it. Them as didn't appreciate the nuances of digging up one's dead bride or political commentary about the patriarchy, left. Yes, it was like that!
But we had a great time as we always do, nailed a new number which is a mash up of three angsty songs from three decades, and we were upstaged by a possum. Refer the video at the end.
Happy Days!

Tasteless Fake taxidermy is my theme!

The Savage Club - weirdest place ever! It's like the Maori equivalent of a Tiki bar. Terrible but it has historical significance. And Possums.

Aren't we dapper!

Yup, possums. That's what everyone is looking at!

At Home with Leo, Clever and Constance!

Oh my where to begin! On 13 and 14 July, the three of us performed in the annual Winter Art Deco Festival in Napier. We packed ukuleles, a guitar, costumes and ourselves into a hire car and road tripped there on Thursday. By the time we arrived, the load had been augmented with gleanings from op shops and $2 shops in small towns along the way. We carnies love our tat!
Sharing a comfortable motel suite, we got down to eating and rehearsing, and also writing new material for the next night because, really, nothing makes performing more exciting than material so fresh you can still smell the paint!
On Friday afternoon we had a chance to check out the venue and try out the technology and HOLY MOLY!!!  The Paisley Stage is beyond words the best venue I have ever experienced. JR and Lucy have created a venue with state-of-the-art technical equipment and retro-chic comfort combined to make it just a joy to be there, whether you are performing or in the audience. We quickly got to grips with the place and went back to the motel to get ready.

 

 A long shot that shows the ceiling covered in vinyl records, the couches, and some of the incredible mural art on the walls.

 Back stage selfie with us looking VERY put together. Not feeling it though!

 On stage a typical range of expressions - Clever hooting, Leo belting and me trying to come to grips with a tambourine...

 This photo made me laugh, it looks like we are sharing a tender moment when I am actually putting my foot down about Clever doing a particular song I knew he didn't want to do!

With our beloved friend Cherry Boomb, who lives in Napier and was the one to let us know about this venue of venues. Word has it that she practically lives there!

Such a fun weekend! We sang silly songs as we do, but introduced more ensemble work with harmonies that really glue it together. And we cannot wait to do more things together.
The only down side is that I have to have a supply of avocadoes to bribe these two young ones to do what I want. It can get expensive ;-)