by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
Burlesque is back, and the ladies of Bella Donna Burlesque Review have more than a couple sombrero pasties up their sleeves.
"There will be lots of vintage boobies," member Cherry
Jubilee said.
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Performer Henrietta LeCoup said the boobies are not vintage in age - they're vintage in style.
The group will host "Best of Bella Donna Burlesque Review, Fruitcake-Puppet-Era" on Friday and Saturday at the Guild Cinema at 3405 Central Ave. N.E.
Burlesque is humorous theatrical entertainment that usually consists of comic skits and striptease acts.
The members, who gave only their stage names because they wanted to remain anonymous, started performing in burlesques six years ago with the Lonely Hearts. When that group split, Jubilee, LeCoup and Cookie Fortune formed the Bella Donna
Burlesque Review.
"Some of the girls ended up in the Duke City Derby," Jubilee said. "We kind of spread like a virus."
The group spent the past eight months preparing for the show. Jubilee said the group makes its costumes from scratch or
reconstruction.
"It's been blood, sweat and sequins," Jubilee said.
Jubilee said she found small sombreros made for pets at a store in Old Town, then turned them into pasties.
"My boobs are about the size of a German shepherd's head,"
she said.
LeCoup said each member has a room in her house full of burlesque supplies.
"It's almost like a library of costumes," she said.
Jubilee said the members love performing because they're obsessed with pinups from the '40s.
"It's an important part of American theater history because of its blue-collar nature," she said. "It was cheaper than going to the movies. It still is. Our tickets
are $8."
LeCoup said burlesque has become a trend.
"It's been lost for a long time, and now there's this big revival," she said. "It's a great form of entertainment because it's sexy, and it's funny. Humor and sex sell."
LeCoup said audience reaction is an important part of burlesque.
"It's really kind of personal," she said. "You get to know the audience. They're part of the performance. The louder they are, the more we take off and shake it."
The group plays short, vintage pornographic movies between performances, and the event is hosted by a foul-mouthed puppet who smokes cigars. Marko Constans performs the voice of MC puppet Hal Jalikakik, and his wife Darcy Constans is the puppeteer.
"They're the only group in America who wants a puppet MC," Marko Constans said. "It was modeled after old-school comedians who told dirty jokes in clubs. He uses the F-word."
Darcy Constans said the puppet is disgusting and despicable. Marko Constans said it's just a rumor.
"It's a true rumor - a trumor," he said.
Marko Constans said the puppet is the only performer who will not remove clothing.
"He has one plaid suit glued to his papier-mÉchÇ body,"
he said.
Best of Bella Donna Burlesque Review, Fruitcake-Puppet-Era
Guild Cinema
3405 Central Ave. N.E.
Friday and Saturday
9:30 p.m.
$8
