burlesqueLa Belle Peche Nue

Date and Venue 21 June 9 pm | Rio Theatre

It was worth waiting 30 minutes for this show which started at 9.30 because La Belle Pêche Nue is exactly what it was: striptease to complete nudity. This is the breaking ground in striptease where traditionally, the panties stay and the nipples are covered by pasties. But Lola Frost has brought burlesque one step further: the revolutionary 'take it all off' which comes close to what stripteasers do in bars. There aren't any more bars in Vancouver--gone are Marble Arch, Cecils, Drake...I think the only one remaining is Orange Five.

In this burlesque, the show presented striptease with high-art theatrics, as in Jungle Cat who stripped on top of what appeared to be an oil rig. In the background, a video of industrial oil companies digging and refining oil was screened. Lola Frost headed off the show which was received with a standing ovation after her act. Naked Lola had to come out to take more bows. She was 2nd Runner Up Reigning Queen of Burlesque, Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2012 .

From Screaming Chicken Productions which we reviewed few years back, Melody Mangler still had her comic performance but it was announced by Mistress of Ceremonies Cass King that this was the first time that Melody gave her all in the buff. She won the Best Debut Award in the Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2009.

But the star of the show who also got a standing ovation after her act was Roxi D'Lite, reigning Queen of Burlesque, Burlesque Hall of Fame 2010 and voted "Top 5" Burlesque Performers in 21st Century Burlesque Magazine. She started off in an elegant blue gown with Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade", then showed her prowess dancing with a giant hoola hoop which awed the audience, and finally, stripped to her full Wreck Beach 'discover me' all the way..

An entertaining and unique show! Congrats to Lola Frost and the dancers for bringing Burlesque to this high level of art.

© 2014 Ed Farolan