Screaming 
Chicken Society
Blue Morris


dirty dancingBlue Morris
Dirty Dancing Burlesque

Date and Venue 5 April 2012, at 9pm, | Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway, Vancouver

Reviewer Ed Farolan

I remember reviewing a show by the Screaming Chicken Society a few years back. Blue Morris, producer and guitarist, has come up with the idea of taking the Beatles and doing a burlesque, which was shown last month in New West, and now, Dirty Dancing Burlesque, based on the film Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze.

The live-music burlesque show featured music from the soundtrack, "The Time of Your Life", and this was the highlight of the show, and also the finale, where Lola Frost plays Johnny and Vancouver's comedy queen, April O'Peel, playing Baby. O'Peel also choreographed the dance and added another dancer in this choreography to make it a threesome.

All the music is performed by a live band, fronted by guitarist Blue Morris, and emceed by the ever-charismatic super-emcee Connie Lingus. The two-hour show featured individual performers doing their burlesque routines, and at the end of each half, the group performed in ensemble.

I'm glad to see that burlesque is back again in the 21st century. A lot of "back to memory lane" events are happening in this millenium, including shows like "By Starlight" featuring song hits of the 1940s and 50s. When I see these shows revitalized by this new generation of entertainers, I feel myself living in a time warp.

Stay tuned to the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival which will be coming (May 3-6) at the Vogue and Rio Theatres. This is an annual event featuring burlesque companies from around the world.

© 2012 Ed Farolan