Black Mariah - Bettie in a Box



Even though burlesque is an art undergoing constant reinterpretation in its modern era, it will never escape its roots from what is considered its "classic" age. And though she was more of a pin-up model than a burlesque performer, Bettie Page's appearances in iconic burlesque reels in her heyday make her a perpetually looming presence over the entire community. 

Black Mariah's "Bettie In A Box" tribute number is just a helluva lot of fun, and revisits some costumes and poses from some of Bettie's best-known photographs and films.  First is a nurse, then a devil girl, then a fetish queen brandishing a riding crop. The different looks are all entertaining and certainly prime an audience to wonder what's next, and how many costume changes/kink activators they might be able to witness, but one moment takes this act from "Cool!"to "Holy shit!" with a quickness.

When Mariah burns herself out of that devil girl corset, I lit up like the fuse she strung together to ignite and free herself from it. It is a moment of sheer ingenuity and patent cleverness that takes an act from good to great. Performers are always looking for a unique bit of business or clever reveal to help make their act memorable and cement themselves in an audience's memory, and burning yourself out of a corset is right at the top of the list for me. Bravo, Black Mariah.

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