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The whole group ready to party! Photo courtesy of Sexual Overtones.

I met up recently for lunch with Cream Puff, performer with Sexual Overtones, the Burlesque and Sexual satire troop that will take Bronson Centre’s Mac Hall by storm on April 4th. She told me a bit about her own history with burlesque, the creation and evolution of Sexual Overtones and their upcoming show.

When Puff lived in Halifax, she got into burlesque through the Halifax Burlesque Society, and later, Pink Velvet Burlesque. She says: “It’s a great way to show off a different side of my personality, an alter ego of sorts.” When she moved to Ottawa for work, she asked around to see if anything ‘burlesque’ existed but there was nothing besides Heart On, a show put out once a year by women for women…So she, her sister and a small group of friends explored the possibilities. Sexual Overtones started out in September 2008 and was intended, as their website explains, “as a forum for women and men alike to express themselves in ways that are sex-positive and inclusive.  Members’ ages, orientations and levels of experience are varied.” The types of entertainers and entertainment they provide is also diverse.

Excited for Spring?

What they do share is a love of performance and sex, coupled with a healthy ability to laugh at themselves. Sexual Overtones performed for the first time as a group in November to a packed Babylon Nightclub where they shared the stage with Rockalilly, another Ottawa-based burlesque troop. The reaction from the crowd was great, and interest from Ottawans led the group to grow from 10 to 30 or so performer/volunteers. “For now, Puff says, we won’t be accepting any new performers. We’re trying to form a tight knit group and with so many new people, we want to focus on getting better with the group we have.” They also have to practice around everyone’s schedules; most troop members have day jobs – they are government employees, NGOs workers, accountants, artists.

On April 4th, Sexual Overtones will be the headliners, and they’re excited to showcase all new material. Familiar characters like the juggler, the Puff Sisters,  Count Cockleberry and host Geoffo Marx will be back along with new entertainers.  There’s going to be some spoken word, dancing as well as different vignettes. While the content is racy Puff makes sure to specify that what they do is inclusive, never meant to offend. Spring will be the underlying theme of the night…warmer weather, the sun coming out, all in all a great excuse to take their clothes off! A large part of the profits for this particular event will go to the Venus Envy Bursary Fund.

Oh! and before I forget, make sure to pay attention to the show because you won’t be able to take photos or videos at the event.

So to recap:  If you like to laugh, you like Spring and you like skimpy clothing, get sprung!, April 4th at the Bronson Centre’s Mac Hall.

TICKETS ARE ALL SOLD OUT! Sorry…Get your tickets at Venus Envy Tickets are sold out at Venus Envy but a limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 8pm. Show starts at 8:30pm.