Credit: dasilvafoto.com

Food and Wine: A Tasty Tease

Cover queen Miss Rosie Bitts dishes it out for charity

When I call to chat with Trinda Reed—better known in the city’s saucier circles as Miss Rosie Bitts—she’s just been contacted by the National Post about being one of their “notable Canadian women” for Valentine’s Day and is giddy at the, uh, exposure. “Sorry, dahling,” she croons. “The Post just called and I really don’t have the time.” She’s kidding, but it gives you an idea of neo-burlesque’s continuing appeal. In addition to being the mother of two and one of the founding members of the Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, Reed has now gone solo and is kicking off her own company with the glam-for-a-good-cause event Bitts of Tease Cabaret, a benefit for the Victoria Youth Clinic. Featuring music by the Laundronauts plus appearances by Sydni (“the Chocolate Glamazon”) Deveraux, Seattle drag king Ernie Von Schmaltz, the Poi Pixies and tasty treats courtesy of Cheesecake 101, as well as a ladies-only pre-show primp-and-shop with the other Cheesecakes ($5, or free with show ticket), Bitts of Tease is only the latest installment in the Island’s ever-unfolding burlesque scene.

Monday Magazine: Is burlesque a recession-proof gig?

Trinda Reed: On a global scale, no; places like New York City, a lot of shows I had contact with have closed completely. But on a smaller scale, for me, yes; I’m run off my feet. Why? Because it’s uplifting . . . people need a little smoke and mirrors, a little make-believe, when times are tough. They see Miss Rosie Bitts up there on stage and think I have this fabulous life with all these beautiful costumes and people want to buy into that for a couple of hours.

MM: Why have the Victoria Youth Clinic as the benefit?

TR: One of the Cheesecakes works there, but I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for youth-at-risk—being a mom, anything to do with youth is important to me, and I also had really rocky early years, so I appreciate how much of a difference a place like this can make. The Victoria Youth Clinic does some amazing things, and I want to do whatever I can to support them.

MM: I see you’ve got dates in Nanaimo and Courtenay. I would’ve thought burlesque was more of an urban thing.

TR: There’s a huge market for it up Island; the Comox Valley is crazy for burlesque. Campbell River has their own group—the Sweet Tease Burlesque—but the Comox Valley itself doesn’t, and they love it.

MM: How is it being both a mom and a burlesque queen?

TR: It’s wonderful and challenging at the same time. I’d say the biggest challenge is having a 14-year-old son; he gets what I do, and we’ve had a lot of conversations about it, but it’s not always easy for him and his friends do bug him sometimes . . . my little girl has no issues with it, though. She watches all my recorded shows and thinks it’s phenomenal that her mom is a burlesque star.

MM: Why do you think there are so many charity events around Valentine’s Day?

TR: I like to be really optimistic about human nature, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees a connection between the idea of a heart-and-love day, and spreading that out beyond yourself and your lover into your community; there’s a lot of people in the world who want to give whatever they can to people in their community in need, and Valentine’s Day is just a day that reminds them to do that.

The Bitts of Tease Cabaret, 8-11 p.m. Thursday, February 12, at the Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad. Tickets $22 at Kiss and Tell or the door. See missrosiebitts.com for full details.