If there’s any upside to the economic meltdown, it’s the catalyst (or is it excuse?) it gives devilishly talented types to band together and create some inspired and twisted diversions. Or at least that is what we kept telling ourselves Tuesday night in between rock-filled tumblers of Don Julio Silver at Casita del Campo in Silverlake.
Once we decamped to the basement of this old school Mexican restaurant, an occasionally enlisted space forever known as the Cavern Club Theater, confidence about our hypothesis welled up like this month’s unemployment numbers. By the end of the two-hour opening night of "Tales of the Wicked Hare" by the all-new Telekinesis Cabaret we were toasty and smug.
The set alone dazzled in its sheer simplicity and craft: miles of butcher paper pleated, draped, sliced and splintered into decorative valances, jumbo flowers and even a gown on host Jer Ber Jones that Galliano would envy. Yes, the idea had to come from the elaborate, bleached white curtains and bouquets created for the Chanel Haute Couture presentation a couple months ago. After the runway show that February evening, in a kooky Paris restaurant, I found myself seated at a table near Douglas Little, the even kookier mastermind of this L.A. cabaret (and the young creator of the D.L. & Co. luxury candles). But this incarnation cost all of a hands-on weekend marathon by the players, armed with staplers and hot glue gun, and the very lean budget of $200. And that includes the cases of drinking straws stitched and glued into fringed curtains and lampshades resembling spiked explosions.
Of course, the truly mind-blowing attraction was the show. The lyrics were twisted. The productions were original in that downtown art trash kind of way. And the spirit and energy made the 50 or so of us who crammed into this underground den just a bit happy that the boom went bust and these dozen eastside Mickey Rooneys and Judy Garlands decided to dust themselves off and put on a show.
It wasn't enough watching Ann Magnuson dislodging Tootsie Roll bits with a dental pick out of a giant tooth, only to then savor them. We were thoroughly gobsmacked at realizing those perfect gams and bum in fishnets and a black satin Playboy Bunny outfit belonged to a 53 year old! The pixie redhead also performed her first night ever as a drag king later in the show.
Although she claims to be retired from the burlesque scene she kick started over a decade ago, Michelle Carr hasn’t retired her toe shoes. She opened the night with a feverishly undulating rite of spring she described to me the day before as a “combo of Isadora Duncan and Anita Berber with a dash of Mary Wigman for good measure.” It was liberated madness.
There was a bit of burlesque. What cabaret would be without it? But it was offered with a bite. Case in point: Leila Bazzani's pirouetting legs reflecting on a
banana split.
That was all enough to leave rather content at forking out $15 for the ticket (a bargain). But show creator Jer Ber Jones had the place doubling up as the evening's host, delivering his sharp cracks, many hatched on the spot as the technical difficulties became as frequent as his/her wig changes. Many of us would have paid double to hear more of Prince Poppycock. The powdered wigged crooner would've been a rock star in rococo France, complete with his marvelously custom made suit by the costumer of the Los Angeles Opera, gold sparkly stilettos from one of the hooker shoe shops in Hollywood, and a headpiece featuring the grandest cork ever.
By night's end our top had been definitely popped.
This series of the Telekinsesis Cabaret ends tonight, Thursday. A few tickets were still available at posting. The monthly series returns with "May is Sooo (Flippin') Gay."