Wednesday 30th March 2011
Serving as a judging showcase for the live performers in the 2011 Erotic Awards and much, much more, Chantilly Lace combined the fifties flavoured tease suggested by its name with cutting edge raunch, as erotic wonderment cast its spell through three vast rooms at the Electrowerkz nightclub in Islington, north London.
Guests were greeted by the SLAGs – the South London Artists Group – in the guise of a group of laid-back, ukulele and bongo playing beatniks, and by Mikey Argy, last year's Striptease Artist of the Year who has now become our figurehead.
The celebrations started with world-renowned musician Joanna Quail performing on her electric cello as a Tableau Vivant of twenty naked people squirted cream all over each other! It set the tone for the outrageous spectacle that was to follow.
The show itself was presented by Mat Fraser – sporting a magnificent kiss-curl – who assuredly introduced one brilliant act after another.
Our special guest, Julie Atlas Muz, had come all the way from New York. She is Mat's fiancee and they performed together, with Mat singing Elvis' American Trilogy while Julie removed his clothes.
It was the most affectionate, funny, sex act ever seen on stage.
Then came Julie's hilarious solo number – a song about breaking the law, mouthed with her labia.
There were just so many treats to discover that nobody could hope to take it all in, though we know that many guests tried.
Titillating attractions included the Hug Cupboard, with its Menu of Hugs, ranging from the relatively chaste to positively soul-searing; a Confessional where confessing your sins was free but absolution could only be obtained via a donation to Outsiders; and a very popular Peep Show, held in the cab of an old London Tube train!
Meanwhile Steve McShane of the Magic Circle circulated among the guests performing incredible close up illusions which kept guests bewildered.
But the single innovation that people seemed to find most intriguing – not to mention arousing – was the two-way mirror stage.
From the audience's point of view it looked like a plain glass window but, once inside its heavy curtains, the performer could only see their own reflection.
To add to the fun, it was available to anyone who wanted to express their exhibitionistism.
And, with the sense of isolation from the onlookers, the disrobing took on a uniquely intense intimacy. There was something specially sizzingly about these shows – especially when Solitaire was inside!
Anyone exhausted by the live entertainment could rest their feet in the Back Row Cinema, which featured a continuous, video collage of 1950's and 60's glamour, from big-screen burlesque to horny home movies; nudist campery to kinky classics; Hugh Hefner to Christine Keeler.
And, during the Cinema's 'annual talent contest', there was a display of topless hula-hooping which – according to those who witnessed it – should be made an official Olympics event!
The evening ended on a high with dancing to top DJ Chris Tofu.
Guest after guest has said that it was the best semi-finals ever! And the only omission was that – oddly enough - nobody actually played Chantilly Lace itself!
