*** Recommended *** The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque opened with a flourish recently, moving from short runs at tiny out-of-the-way venues into the ‘big time’ with a month-long run at the Greenhouse Theater Center. The opening night audience was full of 30-somethings who were having a great time whooping and hollering all through the cocktail hour and then the show. My friend and I had no idea we’d be seeing a bawdy, risqué, colorful, burlesque/boylesque version of the famous ballet. 3 Spotlights
First of all, you need to know that an 8:00 pm start time doesn’t mean curtain time, it actually is the beginning of a cocktail hour. You can take your seat or you can get a picture at the photo booth and polaroid station or visit with Dollar Daddy or a 6-ft elf who’s wearing stunning black kinky boots.
If you’re sitting at one of the special VIP cabaret tables, members of the cast might stop at your table for a visit or a card trick or to deliver a shot two of an adult beverage in a complementary shot glass. If you’re in the cheaper seats – which still have great views of the stage, you can visit the bar to buy your own libations.
During the cocktail hour, headshots and production credits are projected onto a couple of sheets serving as a curtain. Unfortunately, the sheet was split in the middle so nothing was actually readable.
The actual show begins around 9:00 pm when Clara (Elena Avila) goes to a really boring party where she meets a janitor who pulls off her orange coverall to reveal a vaguely military costume, her Buttcracker (Olivia Lindsey). Drosselmeyer (Claire Francescon) pulls down the sheet revealing a sparkling red glitter fringe curtain and voila! she’s in the Land of the Sweets where she battles the Rat King (Baby Bagos Hood). Eventually Clara and the Buttcracker sit with Drosselmeyer and the Sugar Bum Fairy (Hannah Christensen) to watch the exotic, erotic show that follows.
Burlesque means strippers, so Buttcracker characters like Vodka, Tea, Chocolate, Coffee, and Mother Ginger rotate weekly, with different kinds of performances from the best male and female nightlife entertainment. The ensemble – Hannah Silverman, Mandyn Mueller, Eilish Morse-O’Rourke and Yasmyne Williams – dance with the rotating stars and as a foursome.
I wish I had the names of the performers I saw, but unfortunately since they rotate, there’s nothing in print with their names. The top-notch strippers were both male and female.
I’d read about people with the ability to make tassels on their pasties spin in different directions, at this performance I actually saw it! Another performer did gymnastics while stripping. One stripper even laid down on a bed of nails. Just wow!
There are frequent special events throughout the week including a Butt Brunch with food sponsored by Uprising Baker and Café. A special New Year’s Eve closing performance includes a make-your-own cheese and charcuterie board, two drink tickets for after the show, a midnight ‘pole dancer booty drop’ countdown with balloons and prizes, a DJ and special guest performances. NYE tickets start at $75 at the door.
The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque runs through December 31st at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, Chicago. Best parking option is the Lincoln Center garage about a block and a half from the theater. Running time: One hour for Cocktails, 1 hour 15 minutes for show.
Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm. Special New Year’s Eve performance December 31st at 9:00 pm. No performances December 24th and 25th. Recommended for age 21 and older. Tickets range from $20 (standing room), $30-$50 (general admission), $75-$100 (VIP cabaret tables). FYI www.greenhousetheater.org or www.thebuttcrackerburlesque.com.