No Direction Home

This humble blog was started to document our travels around the country during the summer of 2006, We have opted to continue updating it due to the requests from family & friends. Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

VaVa Voom



February 16, 2013

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 photo 316_zps98a888d2.jpg Cheeky

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VaVa Voom

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 photo 003_zps826d66c1.jpg Q-Mitch

The annual Valentine’s Day spectacular has been a staple of Key West Burlesque for a number of years and while the burlesque troupe has evolved and moved on to a much more variety show type of entertainment, it still has the heart and soul of the amazing original productions thanks to the talents and guidance of Marky P and Wonderdog Productions. In fact the single performance show, VaVa Voom Valentines was one of the must see events of the Key West cultural calendar this season.

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 photo 016_zps08af56f0.jpg Kathy & Jasmine

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 photo 041_zps31f15a12.jpg Kathy & Marky

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The show sold out the large theatre at the Tennessee Williams Fine Art Center and the place was packed well before showtime with a virtual who’s who of the island glitterati. A trolley was even hired to transport 40 or so revelers from the Porch bar downtown out to the theatre on Stock Island to make getting back and forth easier for downtown denizens and give them the ability to imbibe on the ride out.

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 photo 190_zps330f8712.jpg Q-Mitch & Frankie

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 photo 037_zpsb59ae79f.jpg Sue, Kathy & Chuck

Kathy & I opted out of the trolley ride, but arrived early enough to take in the cocktail hour prior to the show starting. The preshow had a festive, Hollywood premiere feel to it. With an emcee greeting guests and interviewing them as they entered and drinks flowing from the TWFAC bars at a steady rate.

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 photo 074_zps47f49e6b.jpg Frankie & Buffy

 photo 054_zps9a9c9f51.jpg Suzanne & Kathy



The show itself did not disappoint, it was a fantastic mix of old KW burlesque favorites and new acts that brought a new spice and variety to the show. Frankie was back as host and once again did his stellar if somewhat inebriated commentary between the acts and kept the crowd in line and laughing.

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 photo 276_zpsbaff5af8.jpg Tatah du Jour

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A mixture of singing, comedy and traditional burlesque with a few “What the F was that…” acts thrown in, the show zipped along at a fun and fast pace with performances by Starlet Fever, DarknStormy, Nick Mazza, Kevbo the Clown, Sapphire, Glamourpus, Daniel Wiggins, Baby-T, Q-Mitch, Melissa Arleth, Cowboy Marky, Susannah Wells, Elizabeth Issacs, Velvet Garcia, Liana Pyne, Tatah DuJour, Faith Michaels, Toby Gee, Kelly Goss, Cheeky Derriere and Lola LaFleur.

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The acts were wonderful and the crowd was incredibly appreciative, especially acts like Cirque du Sewer- a circus act featuring large rats performing tricks such as walking the tightrope, jumping through hoops and such. It was unlike anything that I for one had ever seen. I also enjoyed performances from our favorite performers Cheeky Derriere and Lola Lafleur and Marques VonPhister which concluded the show.

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 photo 335_zps9b3b88bf.jpg Lola & Marques

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If for some reason you missed the show, the next presentation by Wonderdog Productions promises more fun and hijinks and if you are in Key West on March 29th & 30th come see “Cowboy Marky’s 12th annual Rootin Tootin Spectacuthon” at the Studios of Key West. Two performances provide double the opportunity to check out what I am sure will be another incredible show.

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 photo 011_zps189c6d2c.jpg Marci & Kathy

 photo 005_zps20eb778b.jpg Tom Flip

 photo 046_zps9b6a5578.jpg Kathy & Q-Mitch

 photo 224_zps2e77398b.jpg Cowboy Marky