Playful Day/Sinful Night Burlesque

Heldeke! once again succeeded in drawing a massive crowd for their Saturday night double act, Playful Days and Sinful Nights, a dual Burlesque show put on by a group out of Lappeenranta. The host, Amalia Kamalia, a bubbly and effervescent woman with the definition of a winning smile, sparkles on stage almost as much as the rhinestones and glitter worn by her fellow performers. Among the performers tonight are Adolina Alkuheku, Anna EnsiLempi, Blondie Blast, Grace InDecent, Lazy Dragonfly, Love Lettunen, Mrs Minnie Magpie, WaudeViola, and ZiiZii Baker. The massive lineup brings an array of personalities, styles, and body types to the stage, creating a varied show that is designed for any and everyone.

The first show, Playful Days, is tied together with not just a playful attitude, but with diary entries read out from the host in between the different sets. From acts about love and marriage to a set inspired by Barbie to an old lady routine and even acts inspired by science and cleaning, the show, like many of this year’s Fringe offerings, contains a little bit of everything.

The crowd is electrified, with a lot of first-timers in the audience, and they cheer and shout with abandon as the women perform. After the show ended, I spoke with a couple of audience members who had never seen Burlesque before. “I loved it,” said one. “I appreciated how free and go-with-the-flow it was.” “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said another. But they enjoyed that it was “not Hollywood. There were all different body types,” noting that “Normal human bodies look good on the stage.” Another spectator said the first show was fantastic and that they would definitely be back if the troupe ever visited Heldeke! again.

In between the first and the second shows I spoke with GraceInDecent, the leader of the Lappeenranta collective. This is an exciting event for the group, as this is their first ever international performance. They all met during a Burlesque class and decided to continue performing together, forming a Burlesque association in their small town. So far, they have been together for eight years and are excited to be performing in Tallinn. The ladies came here last year as spectators of the Tallinn Fringe and saw a Burlesque show at Heldeke!, which inspired them to bring their own act here this year.

An hour later, once again to a sold-out theater, the second act begins. The playful attitude of the first show continues with a twist toward the more “sinful,” but Amalia’s hosting is much the same: Her energy is infectious and she giggles with the crowd, drawing them in as she takes them on a journey through her night-time escapades. This time, the routines include everything from witches to princesses to swans, oh my! With a dash of drag, a sprinkle of detective work, and a healthy dose of comedy thrown in, the crowd is laughing and cheering throughout.

I spoke again with audience members afterwards, who had glowing reviews of the second show. Again, there were a lot of “Burlesque virgins” in the crowd, who had had no idea what to expect, but enjoyed themselves thoroughly. A more regular Burlesque spectator who caught both shows appreciated that the storyline not only connected all the different acts, but tired together the two separate sets as well, a clever choice. Another viewer mentioned their appreciation of Finnish Burlesque performers in general, noting that “they are always something else” in a very good way. “They are smart and bold—they have an impact.” As a final word, these two spectators agreed that they enjoyed how “audacious” the group was. “The performers are like: ‘I’m here, take me as I am’” lending to a creative and fun show that won’t soon be forgotten.

While Playful Days and Sinful Nights only had one showing at the Fringe, we can hope that the Lappeenranta group will return to Tallinn again for future performances. Until then, you can find them on Instagram or can check out the other Tallinn Fringe performances this final week before the season closes on the 18th.

Author: Lily Strider