Photo Credit: @FantasyLuxor InstagramIt was media night and I brought my mom…to a topless show.
She comes down the stairs with a drink in hand, a black floor-length dress, wavy hair up to her coffee skinned shoulder, wide smile, and I taking pictures of the chandelier and vintage risque images of women from the 1920s covering every inch of the upward spiral staircase’s walls.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it!” she yells enthusiastically about the scene on the stairs and inside The Velvet Room.”It’s great in there too!” She’s fixated and cautious of her step going down. “Is it? Can’t wait. I’ll have to come find you and give you my review,” we laughed. “And, it is isn’t it?”
The girls of Fantasy: The Strip’s Biggest Tease debuted their 2018 calendar and the show was celebrating its 18th anniversary last night, Oct. 24. Like breadcrumbs, the images from the calendar teased your way into the reception for the night. There’s no place to sit. All blue, cushioned, velvet, c-shaped booths are taken. One had about 12 people sitting on it.
At the bar, tons were squeezed in hoping to catch just a look from one of the two bartenders to place their drink order. The music was loud, but the voices, laughter, and drinks of the overworked, stressed, and eccentric journalists were louder. Someone was in a cop costume. Another was wearing a fedora, and I could’ve sworn I saw someone from Black Sabbath, but I think the man just had great hair. Better than mine. It was media night and I had brought my mom…to a topless show.
During my second Manhattan, the commencement of the show was announced, but the show at The Velvet Room was not over, and I wasn’t ready to leave.
Fantasy has a cast of 16 with 14 dancers and two hosts. It’s sexy if you can imagine girls in loungewear with their bare breast out, cowgirls in the thong-inspired daisy dukes, and covered in encrusted, sparkly, femininely elegant costumes. Ms. June, aka Sonya, did a totally unexpected and brave aerial dancing number. You cannot discount dancers’ dedication to their craft. They’re athletes. One audience member was actually a performer from the show who sat out due to injury and surgery. Breast, breast, breast, but also lots of talent.
She’s a tiny little thing, but nonetheless powerful. Loren Peril packs an incredibly and surprisingly powerful voice, and at times risque but tasteful personality. “Close your mouth, sir,” Peril points out. The audience laughs, but not as hard as when Sean E. Cooper’s comic and tension relief comes on during intermissions. “I know the execs are here tonight, but fuck it. You can fire me, and I’ll still be here in the back somewhere cleaning and shit or whatever, like ‘hey girls!’” He impersonates some of pop cultures’ icons like Michael Jackson and James Brown. And for those whose dropped-down jaw is a sign of their fulfilled fantasy, Cooper is timely. Quite frankly, he saves your ass from the apparent thirst written all over your face.
The show is different every year and tickets start at $39. I mistakenly thought only horny couples and singles would attend Fantasy, but I was wrong. First off, this show is more than just the dancers. It’s about every single person in the cast. And secondly, it’s for everyone over the age of 18, and if you’re looking for something new to see and do, this is it, whether with friends or alone. This is what makes this show so good. Fantasy sexy, hilarious, fun, and in many other ways surprising. I took my mom because I wanted to see her shocked reaction; it makes for a good story, but she enjoyed it and is thinking of taking her parents (???).
“I feel so much better about my breast. The girls were sexy having different sized breasts, and they were mostly natural. They make you feel like you can be sexy for your husband like that too.”
Two words, one acronym, and one phrase: eww, gross, wtf, and this completely backfired on me.
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