The line between burlesque and stripping may seem, to some, like a fine one, but there is absolutely a difference, not just in the technicalities but in the atmosphere created: Where a strip show is, traditionally, sexy as defined by a very heteronormative male gaze, a burlesque show combines sexiness and sexuality with all manner of talents and skills to create something empowering and subversive.
While Proud City’s Burlesque Provocateur takes some elements of burlesque, it is ultimately a strip show, consisting mainly of women already wearing little-to-no clothing (taking off a glove, finger by finger, when the audience can already see your arse crack sort of misses the point The women largely conform to the LA standard of beauty – not a thick thigh or soft curve in sight – and generally cater only to a male, heterosexual audience.
That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of skill and talent on show. A pole dancer wows the audience with upper body strength and spread-eagles galore, and there are not one, but two, performers playing with fire. But there’s nothing burlesque about the way these elements are employed, rather they’re just something to keep the audience from tiring of three hours of naked writhing.
The evening starts to feel particularly uncomfortable when, after tentatively playing with a couple of fire batons, a seemingly nervous performer pulls a waitress on stage while the soundtrack changes to Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl, the waitress’s legs are sudsed up with bath bubbles, and the two briefly make out.
There are a couple of sort-of exceptions to the predictable, heteronormative programme: Jake Dupree is a non-binary burlesque dancer, performing multiple back flips, one right after the other, in 7-inch stilettos. But other than Jake’s preferred pronouns, there’s nothing subversive about them. They’re talented for sure, but they’re just exceedingly beautiful and flexible, much like the other dancers.
The J’adore La Vie duo are perhaps the closest to a burlesque act, incorporating diamante headpieces and colourful fetish gear with edgy choreography, as well as using an arial rope (though slightly underused, considering the audience’s excitement for it). But they seem out of place in the line-up.
Tables are set up cabaret-style, and you can enjoy a three-course meal while watching women do away with their bikinis. But while this old-fashioned “dinner and a show” sounds nice in theory, it feels somehow disrespectful to be slurping soup with your back turned to someone getting their boobs out on stage. Maybe a slightly more mezze-style menu would be more suitable, something you can reach for without turning away. Or maybe eating at all while someone strips is just a bit gross…
It’s opening night, so it doesn’t feel completely out of place for owner Alex Proud to give a little speech. But, it feels a bit rich for him to be ranting (for far too long) about how much money he’s personally had to borrow to stay in business, and that the arts need more support. Not that this reviewer disagrees, but directly imploring the journalists and influencers in the audience to quote him just seems inappropriate, particularly as the performances themselves feel quite exploitative.
As Mr. Proud points out, this evening’s audience is made up largely of press, family and friends. It’s a good mix of genders and ages, but one wonders what the clientele will be in a few weeks, and whether it will, in fact, simply appeal to an all-male, all-straight audience who might not be so respectful of the dancers shimmying through the crowds.
Runs until 26 October 2023
