I have to agree with you, the dancers were pretty good but the side acts were rather underwhelming and dragged on for too long.  I came to see burlesque and there was not enough of that.  I don’t having side acts, but (in addition to dragging on and not being interesting) they didn’t fit the rest of the show.  That is, they weren’t reminiscent of a “late 1800s moulin rouge” show.  Also, I didn’t need to see the band play for 20 minutes.  If I wanted to see a concert I would’ve gone to one.

Two words:
 
Silver. Bullet. Bar.

I think your first paragraph says it all. This isn’t your gig, and you are scared of clowns and side shows.You shouldn’t be reviewing this.
This was a first efforrt, so even if your criticisms are accurate ( I wasn’t there , but I feel entitled to speak about it because I have been to the rehearsals, they have been at my establishment) I think your critique is premature and a bit naive. Burlesque as I have seen it, and I am old enough to have seen it more than once, is very little strip tease, generally 2 -3 stripteases in a 3 hour show.. and the rest is raunchy and sophomoric and campy.. THAT IS the genre. And YES, I think you are closed minded. You are too young to know or understand. This type of show is of a different era, Cirque de Soleil it is not. I don’t meant rail on you, I just don’t think you get it.
I think the valid points are that maybe the band played too long (although I see nothing wrong with The Stray Cats) , The Psychic wasn’t as good as he claimed (Imagine that) and had poor stage presence.. again First Effort..
But as far as I read of your personal tilt, if it had been more Canival-like, you’d have liked it even less.
It’s not about YOU. It’s about the genre. Vaudeville was FAR from high art. But you’re right in that it is a working man’s talent show. THAT’S WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE. Unpretentious, campy, bawdy, raunchy, Ya know….good clean dirty fun.
Half hour late??? P-shaw.. That IS on time.. Where do you think you are??
Your last sentence was to ONLY constructive criticism in the whole article. And that will be honed as they perform more. It wasn’t a Broadway Premier for f**k sake. 
And to Jimmy Silver, you clearly didn’t see it, A stripTEASE is VERY different from a Strip Club.. I am old enough to know that too. STFU!!!
I say, Give ‘em a break.. and yes they will be at my place in July, so there is my bias. But as someone who has watched a LOT of local talent and a LOT of local translations of national trends.. this is pretty good and a lot of fun. But, I don’t expect to see  Hugh Hefner OR Lorne Michaels there. GET OVER IT!! That doesn’t mean it sucks.
Murph
of Mike N Molly’s
 

I find it disappointing that you chose to review something you planned in advance not to enjoy. For example, I thought The Curses had tremendous energy and stage presence, and I enjoyed their sets very much. Then again, I didn’t go to the show just to see burlesque dancers—I was definitely in it for the variety acts.
Also, I don’t know if you noticed, but the psychic made a number of predictions that were dead on. OK, so U of I could have been a no-brainer, but still. He said he would predict things and he did. I do think having a microphone for the participants might have helped those segments, and I do think they ran a bit long. I also had never seen poi spinning before and I thought it was pretty cool. Sorry you have such a short attention span.
All in all, I think it was a good show, and I know I for one will go see them again!

thanks for the review - always nice to get the perspective of an outisder that’s not friends with the production.

Let’s be real here Murph. 
The time in my life in which I was scared of clowns was when I was ten years old. Now that I am older, I can assure you I do not cower in fear every time a man with a red nose and painted face enters the room. I am older, wiser, and yes, I have a beard. 
Furthermore, from a structural standpoint, the first paragraph is simply a writing technique that makes reading the article more personal and enjoyable. I always find it worthwhile to know an author before reading their work. So this bit of background was meant simply to be an introduction to myself and the rest of the article.
Now, the argument that I attended this event assuming I wasn’t going to enjoy it would seem to be true for the exception of the sentence, “But recently, I decided it was time to face my ignorance.” This sentence clearly states that I planned on attending the event with an open mind. If this was unclear, I apologize.
Moving on to other points made in your tirade. I found it foolish to state (as you so eloquently did) “You are too young to know or understand.” Ah, the old, “you’ll understand when you’re older” argument. It never seems to lose its charm. Regardless, let me just say that I have, in my short, naive existence, been to Paris. And in this little city, I have, in fact, been to a small, hole in the wall establishment, named “Moulin Rouge.” The point I am so subtly trying to make is that I have not been to just any Burlesque show. I have been to the Burlesque show. So yes, I do know what to expect out of this type of event.
Furthermore, I think this connects to your idea that this article was not be about ME, but the genre. Well, sure, I completely agree. However, you refuse to see the fact that I acknowledge this in my article! Where you use the word “genre” I use the word “atmosphere.” In fact, I congratulated the Canopy’s audience, and “Debauche” for constructing a believable environment in the beginning of the show. 
Taking this point further, I feel that the show simply did not keep up with its “genre” later in the night. You’re right, the show was meant to be bawdy and raunchy and so on, but it was not! I felt the side acts lacked the “good clean dirty fun” aspect that is needed in these types of shows. They filled in empty space, lacked energy, and charisma. 
And perhaps the point I want to make most strongly in this section of my response is the that just because this show is comprised of local talent, does not mean it need be accepted at a lower standard.  So while this was no “broadway premier for f**k sake” it still deserves a valid look, as the troupe plans on traveling to other cities in the future. 
Finally good sir, I know very well the difference between a strip show and a strip tease. I have seen both in my life with my very own, young, frightened eyes. It is good to know however that someone of your age and wisdom was willing to impart his vast knowledge of the female anatomy on me. However, your assistance is not needed.
Sincerely,
Daniel Wolff