Friday 21 February 2014

Review on 2013 in "Best of LGC" Fashion

2013 has passed increadibly fast this year. And as per usual, we'd like to take a look back at what happened during the last year at Lady Garden Cabaret. This time, we did so on January 31st.

And yet again one of those famous moments before curtain..

Nobody knew what was about to roll over them..
Kicking off the night this time was Gal with a little bit of Evil.. And boy did she rock those bones in true Minxette style!

Movements were a bit clunky and then there was that ratteling sound when
they danced.. but overall the dead dudes did well.

I hear there is an overwhealming increase of application these days with all sorts of undead signing up for LGC once they realize hell isn't quite as cool as our shows where. Luckily "The Madame" Chopsy has a soft spot for boners.. umm. bones and anything creepy so they are given a chance to prove themselves from time to time..

Now stop asking about that knife and follow me.
..and they passed the audition for backstage dancers thanks to Gal's necro-Skillz!
 Things are a bit fuzzy on my end which order was going on that night (thanks to dates on hard drive with the pictures there's some hoping to recall it accurately, minus the missing set picture ones), and the surprisingly insane lag this time didn't help that fact. SL was pretty screwed - but of course a true Minxette isn't gonna give up the battle.

Nicole even tried to take us away from this mess with this awesome vintage airplane and the most brave pilots one will ever see....


I think something went wrong though cause eventually the plane lost direct course and did some looping-near-crash detour throug the stage. It must have hit the ground pretty close cause surely those pilots were gone afterwards and it had picked up some brazilian beauties instead to try and get us landed. Very cool effect, but sadly I didn't catch a picture.

Luckily though, Kaijah did. This is a link to her flickr image!



Next up was Rina, back down to earth and less risky, however clearly more risque instead! She showed us yet again how a good ragdoll would behave, by loosing more and more of the previously almost dressed attire. I'm sure somebody will approve!

Rule number one.. if it's getting hot, undress, to make it hotter!
One bad side effect of this performance became apparent during the next set this night performed by Rug... Apparently all the tumults at LGC so far had attracted extraterrestrial attention. And they arrived just in time for Rug's goose-bump guaranteeing entrancing War of the Worlds performance.

They landed just in time to find snack-size Rug on stage...

However, one big advantage of small is the ability to fastly dance-wiggle out of the scanned zones! 
Turns out they didn't get what they wanted and Rug was just too slick for them to get a hold of - so they stomped back off to assumingly the next McDonalds or BurgerKing to get themselves some well fed juicy Bürger instead.. (little pun for the Germans out there)

I have no idea anymore when my turn was that night, so figure I'll just toss it in here. It may have been 2nd though. And I don't have pictures either! So here's again one courtesy of Kaijah's flickr stream - I love the messy particle-chain rain that happened here!

This was the pimped-up re-run of June's "In Your Room" set by Depeche Mode. Probably the best worked out set to this date give the 8 months with multiple re-works preparation time with days straight of song looping! Don't try that at home.. it's nervewracking. Or your neighbors will ring super anxiously prepared to call the cops if you don't open.. could be lying there dead for days after all - as I was told by a fellow Minxette who had that happen one day while preparing a show set :D

Then of course another highlight of the past year - "Moulin Rouge" from our Hollywood show in May! Chopsy choreographed this group set and no matter how often you see it, it's fun every time again. I don't usually like uploading broken pictures, but the framing of the stage with all the curtains and glitter looks so fantastic in this one. So just ignore the weirdly rezzed hair or non-existing boots and textures. Or see it as proof that I wasn't exxaggerating earlier on when saying SL was screwed! :D

SL was clearly not quite there that night!
The Madame grinned wide that un-rezz-y-ness had hit the other Minxettes
and not her flawless self...
Hey, Sister, Ho, Sister... Let's go if there's no dough, Sister.
The Minxettes filling in.
Pink showed up at least - but what's up with all them other slackers?!
Then there was Cher with "My Immortal" from Evanescence. I believe this was a set shown originally as last years Halloween show, which I am glad I could see in full length this time (as I so epically failed to show up on time that first night).

Kick that grief to the curb, the Cher is back!
"Hmm.. looks like her... doesn't quite SMELL like her................. Ah what the heck!"
In a beautiful ghostly ballet inspired fashion Cher graced and floated around the stage, no surprise the poor griefing guy had his mind all over the place eventually, and so did the audience.

Ghosts have been using curtains for ages.
Everybody knows that!
Speaking about audience - the crowd was yet again fantastic. I can't quite recall but I think we hit the 60s again at some point. Definitely at a steady 52 for a while :D Thanks for sticking with us - and the brave relog attempts even after the 5th crash (poor Dru).


Open the damn thing! Gimme more Gimme MORE!
Nearly last was the Madame herself again. Rocking stage with Lourde's "Royals" from November show once again. Can't blame her on that, the effects were fantastic! Again I have no pictures of this (some parts just always wouldn't rezz) so I'll borrow the amazing portrait shots Kaijah caught of this!



And what a surprise, the Royal Horse Guards came back again as well that night .. couldn't be any better fitting finisher than this fun group set by Drill-Seargent Rug. All the Minxettes need their training from time to time, after all. And it certainly made the Queen smile.

She acts all innocent and cute, but beware that Yell!
The Brits took claim of the stage!
AGAIN!

Thanks again to everybody who came out to play that night - all the Minxettes and Chopsy for successfully running the shows every month again and of course all the amazing crowd who comes out to support us every month. We love you for bringing that passion along to our little cabaret!!



Of course the official show ended here, but turns out, the inofficial after-party was just about to beginn.. and boy, what fun did we have :D

Queen-Battle on stage is all I can say.. In true Broadway Show Finale style!

I'll leave you with those pics for final impression and hope to see you all at the next show this February 28th at Lady Garden!

Love and Kisses,
laChandra



PS:
It's official. Blogger does some funky stuff and color conversion when uploading pictures to the blog :P Stop by our flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/ladygardencabaret to see all the pictures of all the shows in the past years in larger size without the additional "artistic freedom" of blogger ;)


Tuesday 18 February 2014

"A Madame's Nightmare Before Christmas"

or

"Chandra's Adventures As Madame Chopsy"

or

"The Elves Rocketh The Night Regardless"


It all started out as any normal day at the little joint known as "Lady Garden"... When unlocking the door, all was still silent. One of the cleaning ladies sitting nearby the stage and jumping up in excitement when the key clicks, stumbeling over a chair with big noise and just about catching her balance as Chandra enters. "Finally about time you lazy ass.. sleeping until that late at night?!" she instantly starts ranting, "Anybody ever think of the people who get locked in here and don't have keys?!" the air was filled with smoke and a hint of tipsyness oozes about the girl.. a few empty bottles too. 'Oooops' went through the Minxette's mind... "How could that happen..." she stutters, "Ummmm... drink?" she asks with a wide smile suddenly pretending to not have heard it and maybe few more of those glasses would help to make this little 'incident' not ever be brought up to the Madame... Power of forgetting she'd like to call it.

The Madame never fails to put the right mood into the occasion.

She tossed her jacket over a chair and headed backstage. Nobody there yet? How odd.

On one of the vanities she finds a scribbled note lying carelessly around. Of course curiosity gets the better of her, had the cleaning lady obviously already failed in cleaning it up anyhow.

"Festive greetings everyone! I shamefully realise now just how neglected this poor blog has been in past months! Faithfully.. I hold hand on heart and hang my head.. I will try harder.. I promise..Anyhoo with that out of the way as I felt most guilty about it! I continue on with the unveiling...Lets start with the Chistmas show! Spectacluar sets and just jaw dropping effects all round.."

Apparently Madame Chopsy had started already on the blogpost for christmas show even before it started.. how sweet. She must have felt really bad about the long dusty streaks on this blog. Apparently that's when the big wave of Minxettes poored in, the lights light up in the place and the chatting and conversing of the crowd swelled in evergrowing cheerfullness.

However, something was missing in this all. "Where's Chopsy?" keeps coming up in mention more and more often. Umm.... yeah.. where exactly was she?!

Time pushing further and further past the raising-of-curtains point, the Minxette's getting more and more nervous and words like "cancelling" or "moving the show" were dropped several time until one brave Minxette named Jen stepped up and volunteered to run the stream. "Okay so somehow we'll manage this. Everybody sent song links to Jen immediately so she can get them all lined up". Of course this took another little eternity to be accomplished, but eventually it got done. 'Just what.. lining up songs and people to be sent on stage? Sounds easy enough.' went through Chandra's mind, 'Chopsy can do it so it can't be so difficult' - good this was in mind only cause well... it proved to be a bit more tricky than just that. ;)

Diawa as always kept the crowds calm and somehow under control. [I believe she bribed them with promises of gifts and titty galore on stage. More about that later] At the point where there really wasn't any holding back, the jump in the cold water had arrived. "Ok lets get a act on stage! Chandra you good to go? Jen have everyones music?" our charming Hostess Diawa put a word down finally. Set rezzing, nervousity growing [as always, you never get rid of that] and eventually curtain rose with the charming song of Sarah Taylor filling the room.

Unpacking time with Chandra...


"I've got some presents for Santa... and He's got a BIG one for me......" piano started and the words were carried with sultry voice melodically into the room, to make audience draw their attention instantly to stage rather then the hot ladies and studs sitting nearby.

Some unpacked presents just never fail. Specially with the guys! 

"Ho, Ho, Ho" for everybody - Santa just does it so good!
Phew, somehow we survived that first rough 45-min-delayed start and from the looks of things, at least in front of the stage, Show was running smooth as usual from that point... but that hidden Minxette Communication Device in everybody's ear kept glowing and beeping with highly excited chatter trying to sort the mess and the repeated questions like "Who's next?", "Anybody ready to go??", "I need backstage dancers! Who has a matching costume??", "Which song is next, I need a name!!" - That's the point where you realize: A show without the all-knowing, over-seeing Madame is kinda stressful and you miss out on picture takings. That's the reason I have unfortuntely no picture of Lovely Miwa who braved the stage next! Of course it was most beautiful again with a Spanish/Mexican/SpanishSpeaking song "Quebradas" all fit to the occasion. [Miwa, maybe you can send a picture of your set my way to add here! <3]


Next up was Nicole with a most thoughtful set this christmas show and underlined by The Pogues - "Fairytale Of New York". I am still kinda getting gosebumps, not because of the obvious snow in her set, but the words fading in at the end of a beautiful homeless-Walz-performance in the middle of New York's streets: "Don't forget to support your local homeless during this Festive Season." Thanks so much Nicole for bringing that spirit and thoughtfulness along to the show! <3

However, one of those homeless Nicole had brought in did get a chance for a top spot chair while in dreams unpacking the huge giftbox our devious Diaphoni had placed on stage this eve. This was also the moment where it dawned on me what had happened to our fearless leader, as Dia's original helper for the prime-chair-spot was without internet that night: Chopsy had mentioned an upcoming change of internet provider a month or so before, so as she vanished fully unanncounced there was only one logic conclusion of "The Internnet Gods had messed up the switch." :(

Unpacking in the mind - Present Time is Good Time!

Diaphoni, Chandra and Jenna taking turns in front to present the goodies offered this Season.
Three saucy little Minxettes named Diaphoni, Jenna and Chandra were swaying hips and all other assets to Madonna's "Erotica" and "Justify My Love" remix in the most delicate high-class-stripper fashion. The packages got hot, I tell you! ;)

Following the unpacking extravaganze was Diaphoni's solo set, which was just the most pretty finisher of this fine christmas cookie known as the historic "When the Madame lived in Internet Outage Space" Christmas Show. [At this point I am also a bit happy for torturing and slave-driving Dia into building when all she really wanted what chat in IMs that week before...]

Finishing with a winter wonderland of cookies and cream...
I forgot what the song was at this point but I blame the organization behind the scene. :D So hopefully Dia can enlighten us on that one again and I will update.

Dia teaching the reindeers how to cheer: One foot left, and one foot right, some titty-shake, and rinse-repeat.


One last glimpse into the audience and Santa's Elf's rear...
And eventually it all was said and done... The Minxette Christmas Elves have done it!! A massive huge THANK YOU at this point to all who were involved and helped to get the show out of cancellation-crisis, and our amazing audience for sticking with us through the heavy delay. Another special "Thank You!" goes to Jen for taking over the stream and getting the chaos managable with running the tunes, and Diawa, for her wonderful support in keeping the audience entertained and up-to-date. And thanks to Diawa as well, everybody who made it to the end of the show went home with a little present as well. ;)

Here's a few pictures of the grand finale, improvised as usual by Diawa's endless fund of dances in her HUD. [I have more pictures from Kaijah but need to still download from SL]

Candy, Canes and Sweet Sticky Goodness... and Unwrapping, of course!



Novembers Burlesque Bustle!!

As ever in my usual fashion of uber belatedness, I offer to thee the tasty treats that were... The November issue of the Burlesque Bustle, Ooozing talent and some HUGE bras!! We stormed the stage for the night.

First lamb to the slaughter was the Delightful Diawa.. naked as ever and FINALLY doing one of her signature sets!! she opened the show in the only way she knows best!

Rocking the beats and scratching that fancy floor.. she whipped us into a frenzy along side Queens "Body Language" It was actually nice to have her doing the show with us for once!! I look forward to more!! you listening D!!

D.. subtle as ever..



Actual set order yet again evades me as I've a permanent nappy brain affliction so forgiveness as usual..
Chandra... What can you say about Chandra... not only does she constantly leave me slack jawed and drooling she also offers a hanky to wipe it with, how nice is that.. I honestly do not know how this woman is so creative.. I think she has hallucinogen's drip fed.. its the only way she can get these ideas!! With every show I think "how is she going to do better than that set!" And low and behold she manages to with the next one..  The amount of eye candy that woman can pack into that stage is unreal..

THATS where my toilet paper went!
With an utterly mesmerising collection of wonder on the stage to stare at agog, while she spun and hypnotised us alongside the tune "The Mystic's Dream" by Loreena McKennit, This really was a splendour to behold, with beautiful fonts fading in and out displaying messages while she just gracefully strutted in nothing but rope by the end! YES that looked painful!

Gimme an O!
One wonders what chaffing cream she uses?...
The new methods of eyebrow removal were not proving to be popular..
 Chandra I tip my hat to you.. you have perversely good skills.. and boy.. you sure know how to wow a crowd <3
She had  not realised her shih tzu was aflame at the end of its leash...
 
Hard as it is.. we have to follow that act...

Lucky for us though we have a secret weapon.. Dia.. yes it gets confusing with all the D's..
On her first performance of the night she appears held by a glorious puppet controller.. she pirouetted and pranced through a gorgeous song.. "Sleep Isabella" by Abney Park.. I wish to steal those eyelashes!
How else do I get these girls to work the hours they do!...


Curves Ahoy! when Rina took to the stage, in a fabulous boudoir style performance to Lucy Woodwards "Rag Doll" She sure can tease those boys!.. I do believe this was Rinas first ever set with us! what an entrance missy!! We look forward to the rest!


She tries unsuccessfully to convice us she is innocent... 



The time for one of Nics signature sets.. where you just never know whats going to happen, I fearfully took my place by her side.. "Ahhh this doesn't look too painful" I thought...Nice sandy desert, what could go wrong... only a nuclear bomb!.. after an enormous explosion we realised Vegas had hit.. what a cool set!! I really enjoyed this one!! Nic manages to surprise me.. and that's hard to do!erm... What started out quite hick and laid back along to Laurel and Hardy, turned into a leg kicking extravaganza complimented by The Dead Kennedys "Viva las Vegas" 

Dem Show gals are born from the harshest environments!
Vegas explosion.. feathers, chips and burgers.. what a way to go!



We were joyous when we heard Honey was making an appearance, When the curtain opened to the gorgeous set that beheld us, I think I heard a few "Oooooo's" from the crowd, in full Marie Antoinette glory just teasing us as to what awaited us beneath.. we watched in awe as time almost froze on the stage with the beautiful particles she used for this performance... The song she chose contrasted perfectly, Portisheads "Machine Gun"
The talc spreading was becoming an issue now..
Its MY fecking cake!
Simply mesmerising!



 
We had a fabulous second performance with Dias last offering, paired with the pounding Perfect Circle song "Counting bodies like sheep" This was just hypnotising, Fantastic set and look!

You just never know what you are going to find on the other side of that curtain...
Dia.. making tentacles hawt..

Another group set reared its fluffy and cute rear to the crowd with Miwas delicious diner and Rockabilly roll with Xtina's "Candyman" This was a hoot! Cute set cute outfits and a whole lot of attitude hopping all over the joint! Loved this!

Men scared easy these days of the diner dollies!

So.. I guess I have to make an appearance somewhere along the way in these shows.. Last but not least I dragged my butt out, splayed out on a car hood in nothing but undies and a fur coat I started my tirade against the rich boys...

Scratch on scratch off...
The Royal family if Heff had his way..
Rolling into the stage atop a car.. the hip rolling and ass swaying commenced.. paired with the dulcet tones of Lorde's "Royals" shimmying a plenty until time came to rip off the coat and retire to my throne, delusions of grandeur anyone?... 

AWAY bitches this is MY throne!
As ever a fabulous show had by all, Thank the lord for Chandra's snappy fingers for constantly providing me with proof this show happens every month, because my drawings would be shit!
Thank you to the lovely ladies for doing this with me, the creativity and imagination you all demonstrate each month is simply astounding, and I'm always so gooey for weeks at how lucky I am to have you under my roof to share these shenanigans with.
Awesome crowd, gosh how we love to try to entertain you all! Thank you so much for supporting our shows!
Thank you's to Sierra and Ellen for doing an excellent job fluffling the crowd for us.. your banter was hilarious!
Phew I can relax now.. Chandras been nipping at my heels to get this post done as shes dangling the xmas show post like a carrot to a donkey to get me to work harder.. eh Voila! *crunch crunch*
Much much love to you all <3