Review: Under the Fringe

Rating 4

There's no better way to finish off a day at the Fringe than a midnight burlesque performance from a troupe of nice prairie girls gone naughty. On Saturday night, graduates from the Rosebud Academy of Wayward Girls, founded by Head Mistress Cheripop Purr, tantalized audiences with a traditional burlesque performance that was as fun as it was sexy.

The show goers who arrived early enough to get tickets were not disappointed. Hoots and catcalls erupted from the rowdy crowd for the duration of the show filled with skits, cabaret, and songs.

Sultry emcee Hellen Bedde made the crowd howl with back-to-back provocative puns. And while there was no need for comic relief, Rip Strongman upped the comedic ante as he showcased his brawn donning leopard print, an act more popular with the ladies than the gents in the audience.

With ear-to-ear smiles, the Rosebud girls were quite obviously having the time of their lives working the audience on stage. Bigger bustier gals also added a sense of empowerment to the performance by showcasing sex appeal that wasn't as much to do with size as it was about style. The aesthetic appeal of the show ran high, especially when it came to Rosemary Spice's classic image. With her dark curly locks and luscious red lips, she looked like she had fallen right out of a 1950s-era sitcom.

Suitable for mature audiences only, the show was cutesy and risqu without being overly vulgar or offensive by burlesque standards. Though, it will be interesting to see if a time will come when the troupe begins to shed its nice girl ways to further entice its following of voyeurs.