Hotsy Totsy Burlesque: Press

For immediate release Dec 26, 2011

Press Contact: Cyndi Freeman: cyndifreem@gmail.com // 617-686-1709

 
Joe The Shark and Cherry Pitz Present:
HOTSY TOTSY BURLESQUE
 
R-Bar
218 Bowery (between Prince and Spring).
8pm // tickets $10.
January 17^th (and every 3^rd Tuesday of the month)
 
www.hotsytotsyburlesque.com
 

We are back! Announcing the official re-launch of our monthly show!
 

Cherry Pitz and Joe the Shark, two of New York’s premiere names in modern burlesque, proudly present Hotsy Totsy Burlesque! Combining Burlesque and Theater, Hotsy Totsy is New York’s only episodic, monthly burlesque show. Featuring a new script each month and a rotating cast, Hotsy Totsy is a high camp soap opera featuring some of the best burlesque talent New York has to offer including: Veronica Varlow, Stormy Leather, Jenny C’est Quoi, Go-Go Harder, Trixie Little & The Evil Hate Monkey, Schaffer The Darklord, Jo Boobs, Gal Friday, Handsome Brad, Tigger!, Franny Fluffer, Nelson Lugo, Calamity Chang, Donny Vomit and many more as they join Cherry Pitz in a different adventure at every show. 

Every third Tuesday of the month, you are invited to the basement of The Home For Wayward Girls and Fallen Women. The residents of the home need money to keep their hotel open and to buy G-strings and glitter. Sadly, the shows have had their technical difficulties and in the past they have had to combat, zombies, gangsters, human-animal hybrids, intergalactic space travelers, televangelists, snake oil salesmen and Sarah Palin. But the girls feel certain that 2012 will be a much smoother year, but even if it isn’t they promise you: beautiful, clothing-averse women, lots of laughs, spinning tassels, and flying underpants. So join us for Hotsy Totsy Burlesque at The Home For Wayward Girls and Fallen Women where the motto is “We’ve fallen, we can’t get up, and we like it that way!”

Sponsored in part by Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum who promise drink specials and awesome swag!

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* * * Time Out NY

It's a feeling of having stumbled into a bar outside of the space-time continuum, where the best bits of sexy 20th century aesthetics (early jazz, false eyelashes, garter belts) have been gathered together for some smart and sensual dancers to play with. - www.nytheatre.com

 

 

The Home for Wayward Girls and Fallen Women

reviewed by Megin Jimenez

Aug 9, 2008

In our world of commercially driven sexuality, where it's now normal to surgically remake your body into an idea of perfection, and hardcore porn is just a mouse-click away, burlesque—tassels and all—may just be the most subversive act around. The Home for Wayward Girls and Fallen Women invites us for a much-too-brief hour into a pan-sexual, post-feminist party. Here, seduction coexists comfortably with the absurd, and each and every body, because of its singularity, offers tantalizing possibilities.

The setting is the basement of the Home, a speakeasy-cum-reformatory for bad girls. Tucked away in a lush Spiegelworld circus tent behind the bustling tourist mall that is essentially the South Street Seaport, the goings-on in here do indeed feel illegal. The conceit that ties the performances together is ostensibly a fundraiser; the cause varies with each date, as do the host and performers. On this particular evening, host Cherry Pitz (Cyndi Freeman, also the producer and co-creator), looking as beautiful as a drag queen, is seeking to bail out a sister in the slamma'. Channeling the spirit of 1950s baby-voiced vamps who are just misunderstood ("That's not what I meant! You have such a dirty mind!"), she bares a little more creamy skin with each new act ("Ooooh! My back is so naked!").

Stripteases of all moods ensue, ranging from the classic feather fan dance of Veronica Varlow to the hilarious Miss Brooklyn as a sexy lady clown letting loose (yes, giant floppy shoes and all). The boys are invited, too—TIGGER! (James Ferguson) transgresses as a Catholic priest who energetically bares more than his soul. Meanwhile, Martha Stewart and the FBI threaten to shut down the high jinks, but soon can't help but be drawn in. For the audience, hooting and hollering is mandatory (good "Burletiquette," as the program declares). It is this inclusiveness, as well as a historical awareness and a sharp sense of humor, that makes the revue such fun. It's a feeling of having stumbled into a bar outside of the space-time continuum, where the best bits of sexy 20th century aesthetics (early jazz, false eyelashes, garter belts) have been gathered together for some smart and sensual dancers to play with.

While future shows will feature different story lines and casts, I'm pretty certain they will make it as hard to leave this enticing place as it was on opening night.

Written/created by: Cyndi Freeman and Joseph Naftali
Directed by Burke Heffner
Presented by Hotsy Totsy Burlesque

**** (four stars) If the likes of Rubie Fizz, Legs Malone and Cherry Pitz tickle your fancy, this Fringe show is for you. Cyndi Freeman has cleverly put together a night of fun, featuring different acts every night. A virgin to burlesque, I was especially impressed by Nasty Canasta's raunchiness and RunAround Sue's preshow go-go. The Jewish jokes were flowin', and everyone in the audience seemed to be having a grand time—including my roommate and I, who were chugging wine and eventually shouting, “Take it off!” with the rest of the crowd. I left thinking that no one should lick swords like the host did, but as for the girls…hey, if you got it, flaunt it.

Last night Ethan and I went to Hotsy Totsy’s Dr. Who burlesque show. As an avid Dr. Who fan (I carry around a sonic screwdriver in my bag everyday) and have very little experience with proper burlesque shows, I was not sure what to expect – more-so, how they would combine the two.

This show, as advertised here, was recommened by a friend of ours, Mykle Hoban, that instructed us to attend. The venue was in the basement of The Delancy located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Small, dark and limited seating, Ethan and I got a beer and found the most comfortable standing area.
A woman danced half naked to warm up the crowd and then the host, Cherry Pitz, started. With a big red wig and a high pitched voice she was interrupted by The Doctor, who resembled Tennant, and gave the audience a wonderful introduction as to who and what The Doctor is. The highlights of this were the references he threw to those there for the The Doctor. Yes, he even said “Wibbly wobbly”. Another amusing part was when The Doctor (as the 10th) used the 11th Doctor’s sonic screwdriver – this error in continuity was noted with a scream here-and-there from audience members.
He ran off the stage with his gorgeous red-haired companion and the show continued. The first dancer performed, Cherry returned to the stage to present the next dance and The Doctor is found back on stage. This would be the format for the rest of the show with the narrative that a alien poop monster (my kinda monster, right?) that had escaped from space prison.
The dancers were lovely, of course. The high lights of the burlesque dancers:
1) The second dancer walked up to the stage naked and covered in chains, tape over her mouth and nipples, with what sounded like Sunn O))) playing. Once on stage she used a slow twisting dance to remove the chains from her body. When she was unbound from the shackles she removed the tape and spit out blood. It was so awesome and brutal. Ethan and I did not see this one coming. (Note: if pictures or videos were allowed, there would be one here)

2) During the intermission I met The Doctor, discovered several other attendees had also brought their sonic screwdrivers and once I returned to the basement I watched as one of the performers was dancing to a remix of the Dr. Who theme song. She later danced to “Human Fly” by The Cramps – which has forever been a fantasy of mine to watch (TMI?).

3) We got to see The Doctor’s companion get naked. AND – the only thing that can stop the alien poop monster was Cherry Pitz’s boobs – naked dancing followed.

All in all, it was a great experience. In a nutshell, it was a burlesque show intended to introduceDr. Who fans to burlesque, and burlesque lovers to Dr. Who. I would even consider going to another event preformed by this group of gals.

"Cyndi Freeman has cleverly put together a night of fun... and everyone in the audience seemed to be having a grand time."

Cherry Pitz... (is) a one-woman comic extravaganza.

(Cherry Pitz) is a gem: a pink-wigged, leopard-print, hip-girating gem.

(Cherry Pitz') scintillating, stimulating, and sexy presence filled the theater with a tingling and tangible energy.

(Cyndi Freeman's) instincts, charm, and inventiveness as a performer are first rate.

Freeman is a glowing laser beam that you can't help but glue your eyes to throughout the whole show.

Spoofing pulp fiction seems like a redundant exercise since the genre is already steeped in irony, but bravura performer Cyndi Freeman sends up the form in a way that manages constantly to surprise and provoke.

Schaffer the Darklord merges geeky rap and stand-up comedy without descending into too much wackiness or self-parody.

As fan of hip hop at its purest, I love to see genuine artistry, lyricism, charisma and independent spirit - something Schaffer has.

STD, as he's called, is the coolest dork yet.

Think of Schaffer as a cross between Eminem and the evil mirror universe version of They Might Be Giants, with a healthy dose of twisted, dark humor and catchy rhythms.

It should be noted that musically, STD comes correct: his beats, samples, and flow pass the test even without the clone sex, cats, and vengeful zombie Jesus Christs. The man deserves a plaque.

Dirty Martini is one of the best in burlesque!

Dirty Martini performs an inspired Sally Rand style fan dance.

Jo "Boobs" Weldon...one of the lights of the burlesque revival

Jo Boobs gives it to ya old school, with some of the most skilled tassel spinning around.