Tease to please

Babes in Sin bring burlesque to the Cooler Lounge

BY ROBERT KIMBERLY

It was one of those days when Vegas doesn't feel like Vegas, overcast and pouring. The rain-filled day had Evie playing country tunes and ordering up Bloody Marys. Deadly Tiger Lily, Jenny-O, Kitty Baby (aka Evie), Jenny and Shandra are at the table, and Nena, who performs as "Blue Angel," is tending bar at the Cooler Lounge. Four of the five members of the Babes in Sin burlesque group braved their way to the bar, a home away from home for the girls, with only Za'Raa/Ashley MIA. Vegas drivers and wet roads made for a bad bet that afternoon. As smokes were smoked and drinks poured, the girls were looking to set straight their troupe's reasons for being.

The Babes in Sin are the city's latest addition to its re-emerging burlesque tradition. Branching off from the Sin City Grind Kittens, the group premiered at the SEAT theater space in the Arts Factory during September's First Friday event. Their performance went well, but the girls took exception to being mistakenly publicized as the Sin City Grind Kittens, and they look forward to distinguishing themselves from the former troupe.

"It's the vaudeville act; it's burlesque. I know the two are two separate things completely, but we want to incorporate those things," says Evie, with Jenny-O and Kitty both nodding. "I think it will take time. It's not just the costumes and music we change; it's the whole theme. If it's just the music, you're going to run out of music eventually. You just kind of add a bow? It just gets boring. Take the SEAT performance: I ate glass and I slit my wrist to a Tom Waits song. It was a total Parisian carnival. It's more tragic comedy."

The girls look to entertain, developing themes to their shows and going for quality over quantity in their sexy showcase. They take exception to groups like the Suicide Girls, whose online and in-person performances involve exposure with no tease or talent. For the Babes, it's about staying far away from the leave-nothing-to-the-imagination style of the Suicide Girl, which suffers from an I-know-my-parents-will-hate-this-when-they-see-it vibe.

While the girls may offer a bit of slap and tickle, it's not the titillation that's the reward for the girls. The stage is a playground, and the girls are both friends and cheerleaders. For Jenny-O and Kitty, it's time to take chances while being surrounded by their biggest supporters.

"These two girls are next: They are both amazing," says Evie.

Jenny and Kitty are Maids in Sin, Babes in training. They clear the stage of discarded costumes, present skits and misbehave in general. Eventually, they'll be full-fledged performers, and the troupe will close its ranks to new girls. Five is just right for them.

They appreciate the differences between the theatrical-vs.-bar styles of performance. With the SEAT event, there were more staged group numbers in the "Phantasmagorie"-themed show. Evie adds that at the Cooler Lounge "it's more improv, more personable." The upcoming Cooler performance will be "A Man's Ruin Burlesque Extravaganza," a dedication to weak virtue that's not coincidentally timed with the Hot Rod Reunion that same day. Previous Cooler experiences had the Babes supporting bands, not the other way around. But with Nena acting as a booking agent, she's making it a point of pride to ensure that better bands come to the venue. The focus is on the Babes in Sin when the troupe takes center stage.

With a slightly embarrassed but enthusiastic embrace of the Internet, Evie went on about all the members' love of MySpace.com. In addition to the group's Website, www.babesinsin.net, there's the Babes in Sin Yahoo Group, and most of the girls have MySpace or Tribe.net pages. These online resources keep the Vegas girls in touch with other like-minded performers, which has made it easier for the Babes to bring in a collection of girls from California for the upcoming Cooler performance, including Anna Bells (the Fishnet Floozys), Lily Valentine (the Starlight Sirens Burlesque Troupe) and the Lucha Locas (Natalie and Vanessa, chorus girls in the Velvet Hammer). L.A. psychobilly band the Henchmen will round out the evening.

After that, the Babes in Sin look to take Vegas on the road with a planned performance at the January 2005 TromaDance FilmFest in Salt Lake City and other opportunities in the works. But until then, there's the vice-filled show with the Babes at the Cooler.

Babes in Sin

"A Man's Ruin Burlesque Extravaganza" (with Clydesdale and the Henchmen)

The Cooler Lounge

905 N. Decatur Blvd.

702-646-3009

Nov. 20, 9 p.m.