What Was Old Is Nou (Published)

What Was Old Is Nou

The Birth of Nouveau Burlesque

By Chris Carney

Burlesque surged to popularity during the Victorian Era as a panacea for all the ills foisted on the lower classes. Mores had become stilted, sexuality taboo and the aristocracy aloof. Combining ribald humor, mocking imitations of the upper crust and, of course, glimpses of the female form, burlesque competed with vaudeville. Often known for spoofing opera, Shakespearian drama and ballet, burlesque was popular well into the 20th century. To the surprise of many, burlesque wasn't a taboo institution. Some of the great, early movie stars got their start in burlesque. Mae West used the lessons learned to turn heads and get laughs in her later "legitimate" career. W.C. Fields, Red Skelton and Abbott and Costello perfected their humor alongside gorgeous, barely clothed women. (Talk about working through distraction! Thank the Maker they refrained from taking part in the art of the tease.) With the advent of movies, burlesque faded. Then came World War II and the culturally stilted '50s. Sexuality went underground once more, only to be unleashed with a fury in the '60s and '70s. Mores were smothered under the mountain of quick-money greed in the '80s, and the '90s brought a sense of exploration and an ardor for things "old school." People became nostalgic for the glitz, the glamour and the tease lost in the "free sex" era and repressed once more by the era of AIDS. Thus, nouveau burlesque was born. The tease was safe. The tease was titillating. The tease was back. Troupes formed in New York and Los Angeles, but it wasn't till Sin City grasped hold that nouveau burlesque joined its older sister as a force of nature. Where lace, satin and the odd bit of leather may stir tantalizing memories, the true masters of the tease are these priestesses of the born-again art of burlesque. Come, join our expedition into their temples of temptation to find that the old is new once more. CRAZY GIRLS: Glistening at you in print ads, perched atop the cab you took from the airport and dominating the skyline, there they are, lying in wait to climb down and engage in some kind of Godzilla-inspired battle of sexiness before returning to their billboard lair. Head over to the Riviera where you can fondle the cast of girls' bronzed backsides for luck, something that's become a tradition at the Riv. Just make sure it's the statue you're grabbing. FANTASY: Deep in the pyramid of Luxor, intrepid explorers of all things risqu� will come across the girls of Fantasy, who bring the art of imaginative sensuality to its limits, while engaging in some of the most classic "fantasies," including sexy secret agent, workplace romance and lusting after the cowboy. Choreographed by Cris Judd, Fantasy's mix of seduction, singing and comedy is best for couples. FOLIES BERGERE: This show is the classics of classics. Some sort of Folies probably appeared onstage about the time cavemen began to realize that they no longer needed to club their women. A quick mastodon ride earned them a night of sensual bliss unseen in their dank caves. The Las Vegas show at the Tropicana is anything but ancient, though. The traditional cancan has never been steamier, the Latin mambo engenders thoughts of running for the border and the gorgeous women remind even the most stalwart of their animal sensuality. LAS VEGAS PUSSYCAT DOLLS: If you haven't drooled over, oops, heard of this gorgeous troupe of hip-shimmying ladies, you might be living in a deep hole (or maybe under a rock in the above-mentioned cave). Representing the newest of the new, the Pussycat Dolls at Caesars Palace often have special guests who top every guy's most-lusted-after list, and if it gets too hot, step over to Pure nightclub for a cool cocktail. IVAN KANE'S FORTY DEUCE/ROYAL JELLY: This one's a twofer, as the show changes depending on which day of the week you're seeking forbidden pleasures. The speakeasy vibe of the Mandalay Bay club drifts about you in slow cigarette-smoke curls. Most nights, you'll be whisked back to the '20s with hot jazz and smoking dancers. Raise the volume on Thursdays when the Forty Deuce goes harder, with Royal Jelly and its blend of live rock 'n' roll and provocative dancing. CRAZY HORSE PARIS: Could you ask for a more titillating experience than MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris? After all, the word burlesque, and nouveau for that matter, is French. Inspired by the original and stocked with dangerous beauties, the show at the MGM Grand may just be the quintessential in fantasy. Crazy Horse ain't no strip show. It is art in motion. It is 12 of the most perfect, jaw-dropping beauties, stroked and painted by multicolored lights. The feeling is otherworldly, extra-dimensional and perfect. Nouveau burlesque takes an art form as ancient as man from the fire-lit caves of yore into the high-tech world of light, sound, movement and form. In a world of stilted mores, bad manners and overwrought sensuality, it comes as a savior. It reminds us that patience, the wait and, above all, the tease make life richer, lively and human. Hats off to nouveau! Originally Published in Las Vegas Magazine