Yes, this was an honest-to-God strip show. None of that burlesque tease - full nudity was the order of the day. But, as with everything in the Fringe, it's more than that - it comes with a positive equality and tolerance message which, admittedly, is hard to focus on when you're getting a lap-dance but still ...
The show is compered by Gypsy Charms, who has a rather, ummm, unusual downstairs decoration and whom I saw at Lili's show a couple of years ago (here). Three other girls make up the troupe - sadly the only other name I got was Savannah Duvall but there was also a tall striking English girl and a BDSM-themed foul-mouthed Glasgow lass who I think was called Roxy Carmichael. As we walked in we were all given fake dollar bills and Ms. Charms introduced us to the etiquette of stripping and tipping. Accompanying them on piano (although most of the music was through the PA) was a character known only as Gimpy, for fairly obvious reasons - he did get the biggest laugh when a raffle was held to pick an audience member for a lap dance, who them picked a number out of a hat to see which girl would perform; in a total surprise it was Gimpy ...
There was plenty of up-close audience participation, the show was surprisingly funny, and ended at the, ahem, climax with a positive and uplifting message celebrating choice and tolerance, and explicitly castigating those who would deny these performers their rights (e.g. Government, pressure groups, religious groups, etc.)
All in all it was a strange experience. It had been years since I'd been at something like this, and I recall the last time I was left cold and creepy at the utter soulless nature of it. This one was different - these were body-positive women working together by their own volition and on their own terms doing something they enjoyed. I'mglad I went and was able to support them.
As an aside they were handing out flyers at the end for the Glasgow Burlesque Festival - might be one to check out later this year ...
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