When my parents go to Vegas, they always get tickets to one of the many topless stage performances, like Peep Show. I've never understood the need to spend $100 a person to watch near-naked women dance around in feathers and crystal costumes in a city where $100 will buy you at least two minutes with one of the town's renowned strippers — okay, so my idea of a good deal is just as ridiculous as my parents'. In any case, I've always assumed these topless shows were merely a way of enticing men to take their female companions to see a stage performance. The nudity, or anticipation of nudity, keeps the men entertained while the women can enjoy the show's theatrics. In a sense, these shows are a compromise between going to a strip club and watching Carrot Top.
While Tampa is supposedly renowned for our strip clubs, rarely do you see a Vegas-style show in town. Nor would you expect to attend such a performance for $20, which includes complimentary wine and beer. This Saturday LeTeaze Burlesque Troupe turned CL Space into a dynamic theatrical arena where near-nudity was just one of the attractions. Along with sensual hula-hooping, acrobatic pole dancing, and the various strip teases by Le Teaze, the emcee Dotti Biscotti kept the crowd laughing with self-deprecating humor, The Great Kardenni made fun of magic as much as he demonstrated the art, and two drag queens did what drag queens do — they rocked illustrious night gowns and lip-sung to diva music. While my only companion was my camera, even the non-nude parts were entertaining enough to keep me from returning to the open bar between acts, which is more than I can say for many of the local strip clubs.
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This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2010.