Story by Jonoton Marcus Booze
Photos courtesy of Pretty Things Peepshow
Beneath the bright lights, outlandish make-up and dazzling glitter of the stage, you can be whoever you want to be. Unique characters like Heather Holliday , “Bombshell of the Blades,” who swallows swords and flings knives at her volunteers; Firefly, the 27-inch-tall dancer and the “Midget of Mischief” stripper that walks on glass as the nation’s shortest professional performer; and the chainsaw-juggling “Dapper Dane of Danger” Donnie Vomit all magically come to life. The stage can be home to everyone.
These performers of the Pretty Things Peepshow, who performed at Diablo’s Downtown Lounge on Aug. 20, may seem like outlandish characters from another world, but at the end of the night they aren’t as different as we may think. Their enigmatic lifestyles also include the usual hard work, families, and friendships that we in the audience experience.
They spend nine months out of the year on tour, performing on average four to six shows a week, and the level of dedication involved in this lifestyle is breathtaking. They are dedicated artists, and must use each performance to perfect their craft. Every performance is seen as a chance to out-do themselves. They entertain with a unique style they call “Broadville,” a unique blend of the world-famous Broadway stages and Vaudeville circus acts.
Each stunt requires a high level of expertise and would otherwise be disastrous. “When I’m on stage all I’m thinking about is keeping balance because a single mistake would be extremely dangerous,” says Holliday.
Pretty Things came together as independent sideshow acts from around the country. Heather Holliday began in Coney Island as a magician’s assistant. Go-Go Amy’s dream, as dancer, producer and stage director, began when she became a technical seamstress as a way to sneak into New York City’s infamous nightlife while underage. Fifteen years later, that childhood mischief has evolved into a successful career for the tassel-twirling bombshell.
She continues to design all the costumes for the show, in hopes to wow audiences with her creativity and keep them coming back for more. Word of mouth is important with any traveling act. Many of their audience members may doubt the show is worthwhile until being encouraged by friends and family. There is still a large stigma in
the world of burlesque and sideshows for their explicit nature.
As the show’s only true burlesque performer, Amy shrugs off the stigma of sexuality involved in her work. “I think people think of our act as being sexual or dirty,” she says, “but I don’ t think it’s sexy, twirling tassels from my nipples. I think it’s funny.”
Which, of course, isn’t to say it’s sexless. “It’s supposed to be fun,” Amy says. “We want the people that attend our shows to walk away saying that we gave them a great night… People come to our shows with their dates and I like to think that I’m the reason these guys are going home and getting laid.”
There is more to the show than simply hopping on stage. The same seducing gaze Amy uses is also scanning the crowd for the next disaster. Yet you will never see the tactician’s mind at work. The countless hours of rehearsal or the planning that goes into a nation-wide tour is kept behind the curtain.
This balancing act of professionalism and lightheartedness ensures that each performance is unlike any other found.
