Hot dates

>> The art of burlesque, bilingual vaginas
and a new take on Hollywood
romance heat up the stage

OLD TIME DIRTY DANCING:
Blue Eyes (L) and Mlle. Oui Oui

by AMY BARRATT

Whether you’re looking for a committed relationship, a quickie, or anything in between, the local stage has something to offer this Valentine’s.

Who better to get you in the mood than the lovely lasses and lads of BlueLight Burlesque, who will be shaking more than a leg at la Tulipe (4530 Papineau) tonight and tomorrow (Feb. 14 and 15). La Fête de l’amour, starring the oomph-alicious Mlle. Oui Oui Encore, is a special love-themed show that aims to “amuse and arouse.” Patrons are invited to dress in their own version of retro chic to better enjoy this tribute to a bygone era when peeling was an art.

And ladies, if you’ve been thinking about getting in touch with your inner va-va-voom, Mlle. Oui Oui is offering burlesque striptease courses starting Feb. 26. Visit bluelightburlesque.com for information and to register.

While practically everyone likes nude female bodies, lots of people still have trouble talking about certain parts of them. That’s why Eve Ensler created The Vagina Monologues in the late ’90s. Based on interviews with 200 women, the play sets out to celebrate women’s sexuality. Ensler, a comedian, originally played all the roles herself. In 1998, The Vagina Monologues became the inspiration for V-Day, and a tool in the fight to end violence against women.

This year, for the 10th anniversary, The Vagina Monologues will be performed in hundreds of locations around the world on or around Feb. 14, with proceeds going to women’s shelters and other organizations involved in ending violence against women. V-Day events usually occur anywhere between the first of February and International Women’s Day (March 8), but this year there’s a huge event taking place in New Orleans in April. V to the Tenth will feature an all-star cast including Salma Hayek, Julia Stiles, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson and many others.

Back in Montreal, our city has its own unique, bilingual production of Les monologues du vagin/The Vagina Monologues Feb. 15 and 16 at the downtown Doubletree Hotel (505 Sherbrooke E.). Tickets are available through admission.com or by calling 1-800-361-4595.

Men and women and the games they play are the focus of The Elusive, a new play by local writer Mike Czuba. That goes up tonight, Feb. 14 at Geordie Space (4001 Berri), produced by Tableau d’Hôte, the company that presented Jehanne of the Witches last fall. This up-and-coming company doesn’t have any trouble attracting talent; The Elusive’s cast includes in-demand local actors Brad Carmichael (Heaven, Quills), Alison Louder (Heaven, The Cyclops), and Kim Doucet (Centaur’s Romeo and Juliet).

Putting the young cast through its paces is veteran teacher and director Murray Napier. The play promises to “look beyond the unnatural simplicity of clichéd Hollywood romance,” so if you decide to make this a date night, don’t be surprised if it sparks more lively debate than lovey-dovey glances. For tickets, call (514) 848-9696.

Not sure it’s Valentine-related, but it bears mentioning anyway: a bouffon-inspired production of Richard III from Ottawa-based Company of Fools lands at the MainLine (3997 St-Laurent) this week for four shows only. Lead actor Michael Brunet describes the style as “evil clown,” which sounds ideal for this over-the-top tragedy about the deformed and diabolical Richard. Performances are Feb. 20–23 at 8 p.m.