Lady Pandorah's Sanctuary of Sensuality

Phew. What a busy week I have had. Just a catch-up for you all; I have:

1. Been to sunny Southern Spain with Mister and the Outlaws. It was warm and beautiful and I sunned myself much like the stray cats at the villa did for the best part of two days. I even went swimming in the sea. Then splattered and choked on the sea water for getting all excited for that very fact. Yes, I am that awkward at times.
2. Had an arduous journey up through Spain in the Outlaws’ car for two days. We stopped off in a gorgeous 12th Century walled city and Mister and I wandered around the labyrinthine alleys, enjoying getting lost together.
3. Eaten many a paella, langoustine, various other fishies and crustraceans with tasty glee. There’s something carnivorously fun about ripping open prawns (apologies to ILB if this stirs up feelings of queasiness).
4. Returned and went shopping for pretty dresses.

But most importantly for the blog, I have an announcement.

I went to my first Burlesque show on Saturday night!!

My summary: It was gigglsomely wonderful and enjoyably entertaining. I will be going again.

It was at my birthday party back at my sisters last month when I broached the subject with one of my very good and oldest of childhood friends, C (she’d come down from the other end of the county to see me, love her!). Out of earshot from The Family I asked if it would be something she’s be interested in seeing. C is a very vivacious lady, with tons more confidence than I can ever hope to possess. Energy, she haz it. She is also a miles better singer and dancer than me, but that’s besides the point and something I don’t begrudge her for…honest. Anyway, I knew that she’d love the idea and via my Twitter acquaintances, I had come into the marvellous knowledge of a regular Burlesque night at one of the bars in a city not too distant from my secret location. Plans were made and things were set in motion. I was an excited little LadyP for that whole month until the night arrived.

I had gone shopping and bought a pretty purple halterneck dress to wear. Well, the flier said ‘Dress to Impress’, and there’s almost nothing I like better then donning the gladrags. Especially as I don’t have the chance to as often as I’d like. I had my seams aligned and off I trotted down to the train station to meet up with C in the city. It was rather bubbly to walk out alone in the seamed hosiery and I had a spring in my step. Glorious sun shining, my shades on – it was shaping up to be a grand evening.

It was that indeed.

We arrived at 8pm - it became very busy later on and we were thankful we got there when we did. Popular night, it seems. And getting busier each month, apparently. The crowd there was mixed. Younger, obvious students (ah! the nostalgia! We did sigh together at lost youth) into the twenties, thirties and even more mature members of the audience. It was amusing in the interval’s raffle to see the blushing 60-something lady win a set of chocolate willies.

The acts themselves didn’t start until a little after 9:30pm, so we settled ourselves in for a good catch-up session, gossiping about various family members, friends, who’s getting married/had kids as well as appreciating the scenery. Both the countryside (we were out on a little balcony overlooking a canal) and the views in the opposite direction. There were some beautifully dressed people – men and women. So many corsets (a robust Australian sounding lady commented to us that she was so strained inside the laces) as well as some handsome young gentlemen – a few in military garb which was very becoming. Then there were the idiosyncratic individuals. One guy had dressed to the nines in shirt, tie, flash jacket; later I saw him dancing in a feather boa – except he was wearing no trousers. I did hope he had some to walk home in. A stunning goth-ishlady had gone deadly-all-out for the black and red theme – long straight black hair, her pale skin accentuated with bright red lipstick. Her clothes echoed this with a corset and tight-fitting skirt. I kept finding my attention was drawn to her often. Many had gone for the vintage 30s, 40s look with the hair and accessories, which was was I had tried to do, but failed, as my hair sculpting techniques aren’t up to much, so I’d settled for a quirky half-pinned up do with the straightened hair. It did the job nicely I think.

The acts themselves were delightfully named (Miss Lucy Purr and Miss Amber Sweet for example). Each lady performed two or three dances each and of these I think I enjoyed the duet the most (two ladies, one dressed at a very feminine Elvis, the other a Monroe clone).

As this post has run on a lot, I’ll discuss the acts in full in the near future, as well as have a little musing on the whole ‘Is Burlesque basically just stripping?’ debate.

Laters!