Peepshow starring Holly Madison

Paraded by it's marquee as “a tale of tease”, you'll quickly find that “Peepshow” is less through the keyhole, and far more in your face than it's voyeuristic slogan might lead to believe. Launched at Planet Hollywood's “Chi Showroom” during the revival year for many “Folies Bugére” inspired topless revues, “Peepshow” didn't have the Playboy affiliation when it first started out, yet still proved to be one hell of a smoldering success in it's first year.

The original lascivious-girl-lost was played by former “General Hospital” actress Kelly Monaco – her dancing skills largely born from a career as a “Playmate”, yet also during a stint on “Season 1: Dancing With The Stars”. As opening leads go, director Jerrie Mitchell made a certifiable choice. Monaco ventured onto America's screens during the 1990's, as “Susan” in “Baywatch”. By 2006, Monaco was hitting no. 13 in the Maximum “Hot 100”.
Former “Spice Girl” Mel. B was initiated into the cast as narrator and “Peep Diva” for the launch. Her aggressively sexy repute, coupled with that affably endearing North England accent gave the show an injection of “different”, as well as the allure of celebrity.

By March 2010, “Peepshow” had undergone an entire cast reshuffle, with Monaco standing down to pursue other career objectives, leaving a void that any new gal would be hard pushed to fill. Clearly Mitchell hadn't banked on just how exuberant the busty Holly Madison would be. The former “No. 1 Girlfriend” of Hugh Heffner, and resident of the “Playboy Mansion” for over six years (although never as a “Playmate”), Madison is no stranger to the pout 'n' posture required of a lead-by-example dancer. Plus, she pushes all the right buttons with her doe-eyed, innocent blond character.

If you're familiar with E!'s “Holly's World” reality star, you're in for a shock when the show exemplifies Madison's hidden talents. Aerial gymnast? This almost mocks the pole-dancing personality she's become known as in Vegas, assisting the lovely Kendra Wilkinson with “Stripper 101”. Still, it demonstrates that even pole-dancers aren't limited by the glass ceiling of many careers – especially when the high-flyer bucks expectation with a swinging performance atop the “high ropes”.

Comparing “Peepshow” to any other topless strip revue in Sin City is rather unjustified, since few (if any) also adopt a loose plot to proceedings. Holly Madison plays a woeful, forsaken “Little Bo Peep” character who endeavors to find the empowerment and esteem for her first 'male encounter”. “Peek Diva” - a vixen-like woman of the world (played by former Puerto Rican Olympic hopeful/ upcoming showgirl Chaeza) takes the doe-eyed “Bo” under her tutelage, and together they traverse through a series of naughty takes on nursery rhymes, aiding her transition into a “real woman”.

Backed by a 20-strong team of showgirls, with a few buff male bodies thrown in for good measure, “Peepshow” commences a 90-minute stage spectacular through “Little Bo Peep”, “Mother Goose” and “Red Riding Hood”, coupled with an equally raunchy all-female cover band, who belt out everything from Madonna to Lady Gaga. Along the way, “Bo” meets “Peter, The Pumpkin Eater” (John Strickland of Broadway's “Tarzan” fame), whom naturally becomes the object of her first seduction. Bucking the trend of most mime-'n'-writhe revues, Holly Madison tackles the opening “Teddy” number with a surprising clarity to her voice. Anyone expecting the demurity of a peroxide blond Marilyn Monroe wannabe, will be pleasantly shocked at her ability to fill the auditorium. But then nothing in Sin City is ever as it seems! This alternate realm of frivolity and fantasy would be nothing without shows like “Peepshow”, where even Goldilocks shrugs off the 'little girl lost' persona - cavorts in a fashion that would make the Cheshire Cat's jaw drop!

The beauty of “Peepshow” is that it doesn't conform to the classic philosophy of burlesque – it doesn't actually conform to any kind of showgirl revue, that has ever graced the City of Sin's affluent Strip. It retains the sultry tease 'n' tickle of a burlesque stage show, yet offers the nouveau aerial theater entertainment as popularized by the show-spawning Cirque company. This is one strip show, that even your significant other will approve of!