Andrew Kay: Afternoon tease

Glamour is my new favourite word since meeting possibly the most glamorous of glamour girls.It started on a Friday evening, the day before Pride. I had an invitation to the gala show at Brighton’s newest venue, Emporium. I already love Emporium, it has charm, character and already a great atmosphere after only a few months of being open, so hats of to James, Melody, Gary and Chris for achieving so much so quickly.

It turned out to be something of a hats off evening too, starting with the divine Miss Dolly Rocket – who quickly proved her worth by stretching those infamous lungs and belting out a few classics. Anyone who hasn’t heard her sing needs to get down and have a listen. She then introduced Chi Chi Revolver, a girl who does things with hoola hoops, not the potato snacks, which is a relief as she also strips.

Now, I know in the past I have had a down on burlesque, but I was in a merry mood and Chi Chi made me laugh with her gyrating, the girl has talent.

We then had Miranda Keys, a classical soprano with more than her fair share of voice and chutzpah. I loved her, she can sing but she can also entertain an audience with her witty banter. It was proving to be a rather good night and the headliner was yet to take to the stage.

This was something of a coup for Emporium as their star has not made a public appearance in the UK for a few years, working mainly on the continent in glamorous places like Monaco and Zurich; how the other half live, eh?

Dolly returned to the stage to introduce the one and only Immodesty Blaize and the band started to beat out a heavy rhythm. I sat back in anticipation. Her reputation is so strong and the pictures I had seen were more than impressive – but nothing compared to the real thing. Bedecked in crystals and mink, Immodesty is nothing less than a living work of art.

Okay, she dances and takes her clothes off, but she does it with real artistry. I was blown away by the costumes, they have an operatic grandeur and I later discovered that they are of her own design. But it is in the images that she captures on stage using her amazing body and costumes and light and music that the art lies. And it’s as much about her stillness as it is about the movement.

“Mink gave way to a darkly sinister mantilla and black voile wings. Immodesty Blaize is far more than the sum of her parts, if you will forgive the pun”

So there I am, not a lover of burlesque, excepting a few artistes like Cherry Shakewell who I admire, spellbound by this fabulous woman. In the second half mink gave way to a darkly sinister mantilla and black voile wings. Immodesty Blaize is far more than the sum of her parts, if you will forgive the pun.

The next day I returned for brunch and Ms Blaize joined me. I had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and she had a full English, I know, I was expecting a dainty bowl of fruits and a tisane but she was having none of that. We chatted about art and music and had an excellent time which ran on into the afternoon when I escorted her to the Pride park event where we pottered around and downed a few pints, yes, pints.

Over beers we talked about Pasolini, Fellini, Poulenc, Joseph Losey and much, much more – and Ms Blaize, who avoids gluten on the whole, was driven crazy by the smell of frying onions and the promise of a forbidden burger or hot dog. In the end we retired, without the burgers, to the cocktail bar at Drakes Hotel for negronis and espresso martinis – well we did have to re-capture the glamour after all.

So do I now like burlesque? Maybe I do – if it comes so perfectly and artfully conceived and executed as it is by Immodesty Blaize. I cannot wait to see where she takes her performance next.

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