BOOlesque at the Belcourt a Halloween Treat

Nashville’s historic Belcourt Theatre came alive with ghosts, goblins, and girlies on Friday night with “BOOlesque at the Belcourt” an amazing show featuring Music City Burlesque. If you have never treated yourself to a show, you are missing out.

A handsome caballero in black strums a guitar and croons “Devil Woman” by Marty Robbins as a curvy woman in a floor length, red gown dances onto the stage. She wears long red gloves and devil horns are perched in her black, glossy hair. As he sings to her, her hips sway seductively to the music and she taunts him; a glove slips off. She is sexy, tempting, and she is one with the music as she begins a strip tease. But this is not a strip show and when the song ends she is in a beautiful red corset, showing just enough to make the audience whoop and scream. This is Burlesque.

In line for Belcourt’s snack bar stands a potpourri of BOOlesque guests: a couple in their 50’s; she is wearing a bright purple wig, he is distinguished in neat beard and Tattersall vest. One man is dressed in Hellboy costume; the two girls holding hands behind him look like Vandy sorority sisters. Several women appear to be auditioning for “Moulin Rouge” and two men are dressed like 1980’s rock stars, from big hair to zebra print pants. There are tiny grandparents with canes who smell of lavender and married couples who, you know, will leave in Lexus SUV’s. Heterosexual couples, gay people, groups of folks of all types and shades and financial statuses are here. In a few minutes they will all be in their seats whooping and clapping for Music City Burlesque. One of the beauties of this show: everyone is welcome here.

The history of burlesque was about women challenging their roles in life, pushing the envelope, entertaining and humoring the audience without being nasty and bawdy. Rather than the ‘bump and grind’ of strip clubs, burlesque dancers leave suggestions, a question mark, a smirk and wink versus in your face. “You don’t know the practice that goes into it,” says one dancer. “You have to think of your concept, your character. Select your music and what you want to do with it.” She admits to going to sleep listening to her music to conceptualize her performance. Some dancers make their own Las Vegas – style costumes. There are city ordinances about what body parts a performer cannot show. You must audition for the troupe and dancers are selected carefully, and it’s not all about performing. Music City Burlesque has traveled across the globe onstage and competed with other troupes, but they also do charity work, raising thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations. The money raised stays in Nashville.

Back onstage; the MCB Jazz Quartet is playing. This band is a show in itself, fun to listen to and one of those bands that would be great to listen to either over dinner or onstage. They move effortlessly from filling in between shows to providing backup harmonies. And they have fun doing it. (“Isn’t that bald guy in the band hot!” An elderly lady asks me later, standing in line for the ladies room. “He’s cute!”)

The hosts, Miss Lolly Pop and Miss Frankie Apple, take the stage. Apple looks like a 1920’s pinup girl who has danced her way off of Jay Gatsby’s lawn onto the Belcourt theatre stage. They announce the next performer, the stage dims, the music starts, and you are transformed. There is a bit of magic in the air. It’s a little naughty, a little nice, a bit spicy, a lot of fun. It’s BOOlesque at the Belcourt.