the wrathskellar

When I found out that the Boston Babydolls were doing a dark burlesque show for Halloween, I was intrigued. To be honest, the modern burlesque revival had heretofore passed me by, although I'm not entirely sure why because there is really nothing cooler than pretty ladies taking off most of their clothes in appropriately themed routines. So off we went.

I think what pleased me most about the show was that although it was in some ways not a traditional burlesque show, they did hit some of the classic notes (albeit frequently with a darker twist). Thus you had Miss Mina (as the Diva) performing a classic fan dance and Betty Blaize (as the Countess) doing a wonderful routine featuring swirling gold butterfly wings. Less traditionally, Rebecca Margolin (as the Lost Girl) was a delightfully creepy dancing marionette and Sweetie Gladly (aka the Broad) did a disturbingly charming junkie routine to "When I Get Low, I Get High." And Linnea Peterson was absolutely adorable as the Innocent. The entertainment was enthralling enough to make me forget exactly how hungry I was.

After the show, we stopped at Four Burgers, which may be the next best thing to having a Five Guys in town. I think fast food has gone about as far as it can get in the cheap 'n' convenient directions; it's refreshing to see more chains take it in the direction of quality ingredients, well-prepared.

turn of the screw

A night before Halloween. A lovely, minimalist set evoking high towers, gothic arches, looming forest and a spider's web, with an antique chair at its heart. Two actors, male and female: she plays the governess, he plays everyone else. A ghost story where one of the characters, the mute Flora, is invisible, essentially a ghost to the audience. A ghost story where the ghosts have caused tangible damage for the living. A locket. A bible. A riddle. A spectre of mental illness that casts its shadow over Bly, the children, the former servants, and the current governess. An ambiguous ending. An unsettling evening.