Viva la Valentine launches Baroque series at the Playboy Club

On Saturday the Playboy Club hosted a special night to celebrate Nick Valentine’s birthday in tandem with the launch of a new Baroque season of themed events. 

The famous bunny girls, squeezed into their tight, elegant attire, roam freely around the club, decorated comfortably with tables, sofas and furry cushions, crystal chandeliers, a piano and of course a stage. While everyone relaxes with one drink after another, waiting for the show to get started, pre-existent relationships are nurtured and connections are made. The burlesque acts on the programme are, allegedly, the main reason for being there but the night is also a perfect occasion to make new acquaintances, perhaps to form new business partnerships.

As the chit-chat livens up, a wonderfully dressed performer makes her appearance and starts off the performance with typical piano bar songs. She hosts the event, introducing all the acts and entertaining the public playing jazz with the in-house Big Baroque Band between the performances. 

It’s a parade of good-looking girls whose main goal, of course, is to seduce the crowd. They are all smiles and cheeky moves, and they do strip but they’re never vulgar. They use props and know-how to catch and keep viewers’ attention. Whether it’s by swallowing swords or by playing hide-and-seek through big feathery fans, or by popping out of a cake dressed as Marilyn Monroe and showering everyone with champagne, the girls play with the spectators, involving them indirectly in their acts. 

All the performers wear impressive costumes and there would be no need to take them off if “less is more” wasn’t the motto to go by nowadays. All attendants are curious and definitely have fun, though there’s still space for more networking throughout the night. The truth is that burlesque has now become so popular that somehow it has lost its subversion. Nonetheless, it’s highly enjoyable – for obvious reasons, but also because there is much hard work behind it as well.

Saturday night was just a teaser. Hopefully the best is yet to come.

Rita Vicinanza
Photos: Krish Nagari

The Baroque series is on at the Playboy Club every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, for further information or to book visit here.