Second Annual "Geeks & Cheeks" Nerdlesque Show
Chimera Cafe
May 18, 2024
A truth that embarrasses me: Before last weekend, I’d only been to one burlesque show ever. I believe that was in 2018, and I know it was the Pearl District Peepshow at Lot 6. And I loved it—I cannot account for why I’ve failed to keep up with this segment of Tulsa talent. But, thanks to Night Muses, a burlesque production company founded in 2022, I got to make up for my old-fogey tendencies on Saturday night. The second annual game-themed “Geeks & Cheeks” was a great reintroduction.
Our emcee was Ceej the Troll, who opened the night cosplaying a frisky, gender-bendy Mr. Monopoly. After their performance, they donned what I think was a Harlem Globetrotters jersey. “Because it’s game-themed,” they said. “This is a real team, right?” The crowd had no answer. It was nerd night, not jock night. Next came Acecapades, a two-spirit circus performer who got nerdy and dirty—and limber and acrobatic—onstage as an Animal Crossing character.
Before Rebel Renee came on, Ceej warned us the next act featured one particularly loud sound: “We all like a good warning before a good bang.” Cue a game-night classic: Clue. Was it the rope? The revolver (hence the bang)? The knife? Our sleuth worked to crack the case, shedding her cape and seducing her audience—allure, the ultimate weapon—along the way. Trans Ginger as Samus from Metroid followed, in a costume she made entirely on her own. She shot beams and projectiles with her girthy arm cannon, and I felt comfortable being her captive.
Roxy Rockette, as The Lamb from video game Cult of the Lamb, wrapped up the first set. I wasn’t familiar with the game, but, hell, I’d join. When the ten-minute intermission came, the crowd (mostly made up of couples, several of which seemed to know the ropes and several who seemed to be spicing it up) bustled about for coffee and house booze specials from the cafe. By this point, I felt a tad less awkward and significantly more invigorated. One thing to know if you’re a Burly Q newbie: You’re a part of the show, really, in that your oohs and ahhs and ow!s set the tone. In my (two) experience(s), it’s a pretty interactive type of performance.