I may be impugning my jocky manhood here, but I’ve always preferred burlesque shows to strip clubs. It’s partly the difference in atmosphere. As much as I like naked ladies, I don’t really like sitting next to a bunch of horny, drunk dudes. Call me crazy.

But really I think it’s simply the attitude. Burlesque isn’t exactly super popular in this century, so no one is doing it for the $. The girls who are doing burlesque are doing it cause they want to. They’re having fun. So I have fun. It’s nice to know they won’t go back stage and cry later.

What does any of this have to do with Halloween? Well, Dollhouse Productions is staging L’hopital du Grand Guignol, an “evening of grotesque titillation inspired by the French theatre of horror!”

I saw them last night at the new Bordello Bar (formerly Little Pedro’s), which was a great venue for a very fun show. I recommend.

If you’re unfamiliar with burlesque, the basic scheme is teasing the audience. Imagine one of those classic routines where the girl would be covered in balloons, slowly popping one at a time while dancing around stage, then disappearing right as she pops that last well placed balloon. Also think pasties. Lots of pasties. For those looking for breast implants and full frontal nudity, you should probably look elsewhere. Burlesque is about cheekiness more so than overt sex.

The Grand Guignol show was a silly blast. The setting is a hospital for the deranged, the MC a booze-obsessed, terrible joke telling doctor, and we’re given the loose story of an escaped mental patient who ends up bloodily dismembering a nurse, then stealing her uniform (this is all done in dance numbers of course) as our connecting thread. The patient’s escape from her straight-jacket was transfixingly bizarre, more Houdini than stripping – though sexy all the way through.

Dollhouse is doing two more shows this week:

Thurs 23rd at El Cid (4212 Sunset Blvd). Cover $12. Doors open at 9pm.

Sun 26th at CIA (11334 Burbank Blvd). $12. Doors open at 8:30pm.

I’ve never been to El Cid, but CIA (Calfornia Institute of Abnormalarts) is a nutty venue, maybe more interesting than fun, but definitely interesting nonetheless.

Despite the venue changes, the actual show will stay the same. The burlesque environment is very fun. Lots of whistling, howling and clapping (all of which is greatly appreciated by the ladies). Perfect for couples and groups.