Dead Flowers, a group of independent artists and performers, are getting their freak show on this fall with The Smoking Gun Revue, a show featuring performers combining classic elements of burlesque with the more risqué elements of the circus.
There are many a burlesque show around town, many of which are trying to bring an element of classy elegance to the art form.
That isn’t necessarily the case with this show.
“I think what makes us different is we rely on the sideshow aspect of burlesque,” Dead Flowers ringleader Jason Lutz said. “We use what the midway used to do back in the day. When you would go to the circus, there was a tent on the side where you’d pay an extra dime and that was where everything subversive was. There was a burlesque show and that’s where the freaks were. We don’t mask it as something that is necessarily classy. It can be fun for everyone; there is nothing pretentious about it. What it boils down to is entertainment for everyone.”
The Smoking Gun Revue features a number of performers, comedians and dancers, some of whom are LGBT.
“We have two drag performers,” Lutz said. “One is a staple in Philadelphia, Needles Jones; he calls himself the ‘drag pariah’ of Philadelphia. Then we have somebody that we are grooming, Scarlet Fierce, who is just creaking out into that scene.”
Other performers featured in the revue include Aly Katz, Aliya Strychnine, Keycifer Blakk, Smurf, Morrighan Oh Tulle, Miss Rose and Bettie Pagan.
If you are feeling left out of the fun, Lutz said there is always room for new and unique talents in the Revue.
“We keep it in the same vein of the classic circus sideshow but we do have open arms to anyone,” he said. “We’d welcome anybody that can offer something interesting that you aren’t going to see at the typical variety show.”
Dead Flowers presents The Smoking Gun Revue, 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at Connie’s Ric Rac, 1132 S. Ninth St. For more information visit www.facebook.com/deadflowersphiladelphia.
— Larry Nichols