A couple of Friday nights ago, I attended Girlesque, yet another local burlesque/vaudeville show hosted by my friend, Mysterion the Mind Reader. Here are some photos from the event (they're all safe for work):

Dancer at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.


Ah, the dance of the seven veils!

Dancer at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.

You can see video of the dance here [4.8MB, QuickTime].


Mysterion's 'PK touch' trick at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.

This poor goth was a bit freaked out by Mysterion's "PK (psychokinetic) Touch" trick in which he touches her back while standing across the stage.


Dancer at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.


Mysterion was one of the finalists for a contenst held by the local alt-rock radio station to find Toronto's biggest freak. One of the other finalists, a burly fella by the name of Professor Orbax put on a great show. Here he is, shoving a power drill up his nose:

Orbax shoves a power drill up his nose at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.

Here's Orbax, after havig been wrapped in Saran Wrap by a professional dominatrix, announcing that he will now attempt to escape as cross-dressin' Chris holds the mic (yeah, we have a lot of odd people here in Accordion City):

Orbax, having been wrapped in plastic wrap, proceeds to do his escape act at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.

I've got two video's of Orbax's escape from the Saran Wrap: And finally, the stomach pump trick. Orbax first drank some yellow liquid then used the pump (which fed a tube running up his nose and then down his esophagus) to inject blue liquid into this stomach. He then used the pump to extract the liquids from his stomach (now a sickly green) to fill two glasses -- one for him and one for Mysterion:

Orbax shows the stomach pump for his gastric act at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.

After the show, Mysterion came up to me, grabbed me by the lapels and screamed, "I drank some guy's BILE, Joey!"

"Sounds like a typical Friday night for you, dude," I said.


Dancer at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.


The show was punctuated with some classic vaudeville humor by the comedian known to most people only as "The Wolfman". He's hilarious, and he greeted me with a hug after the show. Wolfie, we have to do a song-and-dance routine for the next show.

Mysterion and Wolfman do the 'chicken gag' at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.


Dancer at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.


Curtain call! Here are two photos of all the performers taking a bow.

Mysterion was extra-kind that evening: during curtain call he said "I'd also like to thank Joey deVilla, the Accordion Guy, for attending tonight -- he's in the audience, but we hope to have him onstage for the next show. Give it up for Joey!"

Thanks, Mysterion, and yes, I'd love to perform at the next one!

Curtain call at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.

Curtain call at 'Girlesque' burlesque/vaudeville show, April 1 2005, Toronto.