The burlesque scene is rapidly gathering fans and Lost Vagueness are at the forefront of this opulent and often bizarre scene. Imagine the type of party of years gone by, perhaps somewhere your parents or even grandparents would have frequented, think of the famous music halls so traditional in pre war England, if you are old enough, think of the awful TV variety show “The Good Old Days”. Then take a large twist of modern times and a huge injection of English eccentricity and you may well hit on the idea of what Lost Vagueness is all about. But, just in case you can’t picture it, I will, of course, carry on.

So you have already gathered that this is not just another usual party night at the Coronet. Although the “second” room on the first floor did indeed have the usual dance orientated music, predominantly of the upbeat & funky Latino house variety, played out to a crowded room jam packed with dancers shaking their booty down. However, this was only a small part of the Lost Vagueness experience which prides itself on surprising the audience with acts of such amazement that one is left in awe and wonder.

The main room was certainly the auditorium on this occasion, reserved for live bands and performers, all brought together and compared, superbly badly, by two amigos with incredibly loud “bad taste” suits, afro wigs and unconvincing Spanish accents. Rather than merely a large dance area, the Lost team had transformed the Coronet into the sort of room you would have liked for your Wedding Reception, large round tables with ample seating so that it was possible to watch the acts on stage in comfort.
And what acts they were. We were wowed by Roxy Velvet and her amazing “birdcage” cabaret, imagine a lady, suited and booted, suspended high above us. Then suddenly she lost the mannish suit, revealing an outfit of feathers, twirling round and showing off like a bird of paradise, in a beautiful gilded cage. We were then dazzled by the amazing Empress Stah, and her sparkling rendition of such hits as “Simply the Best“ made all the more dazzling by the fact that she was covered head to toe in golden paint, cleverly removed at the end of her act, like a stripper with paint stripper!

Amazingly absurd performers and music acts abounded through the night. Later we were entertained by the Cuban Brothers, with their “naked breakbeat/Latin disco spectacular”. Well, they were exactly as billed. Tee hee hee. Need I say more?
DJ Shantel from Germany (awarded by the BBC for World Music 2006) played an astounding set, a mix of urban style sounds of breaks, drum & base, dub etc. This being later in the night, the crowds had cleared a little so finally there was room on the floor to dance. The table tops had previously provided a little dancing space for those daring enough to risk a little fall.

This party must have been a sell out as the Coronet was packed to the rafters. The Coronet, an ex-theatre and art-deco listed building, has been expensively and lovingly restored to its former glory and was certainly the right place for the Lost Ball, with its extensive balcony area providing seating right up to the “gods”. Great for just relaxing and watching the proceedings, either those around you, the performances on stage or the spectacular Lost imagines of Vagueness projected for our entertainment.

Realising that not everyone has access to a suitable dressing up box full, the LV team provides costume hire at very reasonable prices. After all, one really has to look ones best at this sort of “do”. Normal “civvies” just will not do! And this being a masked ball, there was a stall selling well priced masks, from the simple to the elaborate, doing a roaring trade catering for those revellers who wished to retain an element of anonymity, hadn’t planned a costume for the occasion or perhaps merely wished to look like a pheasant or even a peasant.

Bored with the usual party offerings, then why not try your luck at the Lost casino, two tables of gambling, cards or roulette, surely something to suit any seasoned gambler? Perhaps you would prefer to stand in the background, looking for the entire world like a gangster, smoking a large Cuban cigar, purchased from the beautiful cigarette girl at the cigar stand…..

All this and more is possible at Lost Vagueness. One final question, who are the performers and who are the guests? It seems to me that the borders are so completely blurred and that we are all part of the bizarre Lost Vagueness experience.

And all that is left now to do is to remind all you lovely people that the Lost Weekend takes place between 23 and 25 June at a very suitable site in Devon, complete with a castle, so I’m told. What better party and more surreal location could you possibly find to dress up in your chosen costume, from an era gone by, and play out your favourite fantasy. Why not be a can-can dancer, a showgirl or a saloon madam, or perhaps you are a fellow on his way to the opera, complete with cloak and cane. Lost Vagueness is THE place to go.

©Mistress Eli

www.lostweekend.org
www.lostvagueness.com