"Men doing burlesque is still pretty new to most people": Boylesque T.O.

“Our performances are comedic, theatrical, satirical, and sexy all at the same time. We really try to make our performances more than just men taking their clothes off,” reveals James and the Giant Pasty, aka Benjamin Paley of Toronto’s Boylesque T.O.. “We work with character, narrative, music, comedy, choreography and even incorporate circus arts like pole dancing and silks into our shows. We do touch on serious and political subjects, but always in a sexy and funny way, and in the end, men are always taking their clothes off.”

What began as a spur of the moment decision has turned into a wonderful new twist on the classic burlesque idea. In the summer of 2007 Ben as at a Skin Tight Outta Sight Rebel Burlesque show in Toronto and had a chat in the audience with the MC for the evening, Keith Cole. From there Keith called James up on stage, stating that James wanted to perform an amateur burlesque act. He hadn’t said that, but with the help of a few drinks and the urging of the audience, Ben did get up there and shake his stuff. “That was my first time taking my clothes off in public, and it was exhilarating, if a little drop-dead scary. After the show I started wondering about why there weren’t more male performers in burlesque and how cool it would be if there were a male troupe.”

That wondering didn’t last long. Just six short months later Ben was holding auditions to start Boylesque T.O. To this day, with a number of stand-out performances under their belts, Boylesque remains Canada’s premier all-male troupe. Ben notes that “there are so few people doing boylesque that there’s definitely a sense of solidarity between boylesque performers in different cities.” And because boylesque is so unique, people still react with surprise. “Men doing burlesque is still pretty new to most people. The surprise quickly turns to excitement as they wonder at the possibilities of men in general, and more specifically taking their clothes off for show.”

The boys in the group are a varied and sexy bunch. They all bring different creativity to performance and the troupe. When performing boylesque you need a firm tongue firmly implanted in an even stronger cheek. “We take characters you see in everyday life like a Mountie or a flight attendant and literally and metaphorically undress them,” Ben muses. “But we also play off of the female tradition of burlesque. Part of the fun of boylesque is figuring out how male performers should deal with the ideas of femininity and glitz and glamour so commonly associated with burlesque. Should men wear pasties? Should we be dolled up in sequins? The answer always depends on the character and act.”

Let’s meet the troupe:

• Mahogany Storm is an engineer by day, burlesque superstar by night with the hottest body you’ve ever seen on a man. You should see the things he can do on a pole. It’s just genetically unfair.
• Dew Lily is the troupe diva with hottest solo numbers that drive the audience absolutely wild, and some really impressive skills on silks.
• Wrong Note Rusty, in addition to being the troupe photographer who creates all of our fantastic images, is a bit of a down-on-his-luck character, that deals with the problems of the world by stripping. Got fired from his job, better strip. Big storm, might as well strip.
• Mickey D Licious is still in school by day, but one of the hottest new boylesque commodities by night. Sort of a boy next door type that is irresistibly delicious to whoever lays eyes on him. He seems pretty innocent at first, but once you get him onstage, you never know what might happen.
• Patastrophic Sexapeel is our troupe’s bad boy. He plays guitar, he wields a chainsaw, he wears ripped up jeans and leather jackets, and if there’s a dirty deed that needs doing, he’s there to do it.
• Bruin Pounder is definitely the troupe bear, but not like a grizzly bear, more like a cuddly bear with dance moves.
• Man Chyna is our most sophisticated boylesquer. He’s a PHD student and he’s always bringing the highest concept to his acts. So you get your stripping with a good taste of intellectual stimulation, too!
• Corey Swelling is fun-sized—easy to lift and contort into whatever positions you need him to. In addition to his size, he’s our resident bike mechanic and is pretty handy with some tools. You give him a wrench and some oil, and you’d be surprised what he can do.
• James and the Giant Pasty is the straight guy who just wants to break out of his straight life. You never know what kinky or glittery things you might find when you open my briefcase and you never know what glamorous outfits lurk beneath my cleanly pressed suits.

The future of Boylesque T.O. looks as glittery and glamorous as their performances. Ben hopes to take the boys on a tour across North America, feeling that most people don’t know what boylesque is, but that they would enjoy it! He is currently organizing a cross-Canada tour for this coming summer. Ben is also working on sending Boylesque TO to the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas. His plan is for the men to compete for the title of Mr. Exotic World and so that the troupe can be named Best Troupe 2011.

Ultimately, the goal of Boylesque TO is to please the audience. Ben affirms that if you go to see a Boylesque TO show “you’ll gasp, you’ll laugh, and you’ll hopefully leave very entertained and aroused.”

Win tickets to BE MEIN VALENTINE! Be the first to email how many members there are in Boylesque and you will win 2 tickets to the show! 

BE MEIN VALENTINE!
Three Nights of Voluptuous Panic!
February 12th, 13th, and 14th
At The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom

For our Valentine's treat to you, the women and men of Skin Tight Outta Sight—Toronto’s longest running burlesque troupe, and Boylesque T.O.—Canada's Only All Male Burlesque Revue, collaborate to bring you a
show in the daring tradition of Weimar Republic Berlin. With over 15 burlesque artists, live music by Alistair Christl and The Cosmotones, and acclaimed actress/chanteuse Terra Hazelton as the scintillating Torch Singer, this show is guaranteed to get you all riled up to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Join the two troupes after the late show on Saturday for a shameful and scandalous Dance After Party with DJ Sigourney Beaver! This weekend marks the 10 year Anniversary of Skin Tight Outta Sight's Valentine burlesque performances. Don't miss it! Tickets are available here.