The Brothers Grimm wouldn’t know quite what to make of this.
But then, Cameron Chase isn’t really interested in rehashing yet another stale fairy tale.
Grimm Girls, the third original burlesque show in four years from the Langley writer, hits the stage at the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) Theatre in Vancouver for three weekends in May.
Geared once again to an adult audience, Grimm Girls weaves together a trio of well-known tales from childhood — Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella — and then gives them a saucy twist.
“It’s the story you knew as a kid, but a bit naughtier,” explained the 24-year-old Walnut Grove Secondary graduate.
“The whole thing revolves around the trial of the Evil Queen from the story of Snow White.”
In this version, Red Riding Hood serves as Snow White’s lawyer, while the Big Bad Wolf represents the Queen.
“So there’s some tension there. They’ve got some history,” Chase laughed.
The case follows the basic storyline of the famous fairy tale, told in flashbacks through witness accounts from other characters. Even the Magic Mirror, gets to weigh in on the fairness of it all.
Except — and here’s the fun part — the action is accompanied by song and dance, carried out in various states of undress.
As Chase — who formerly wrote under the name Cameron Fatkin — explained, it’s not so much that the stories have been turned on their heads, as turned on their sides and spanked.
Cinderella, for example, is now a jaded divorcée who has an obsession with shoes.
“Her ex-husband was really into shoes, if you know what I mean,” laughed Chase.
Once again, the writer is shooting for an effect that brings humour to the subject in a manner that is more risqué than rude.
“I don’t want people to feel like they’re watching something vulgar,” he said.
“It’s not smutty. It’s about embracing sexuality, which is everywhere.”
On the other hand…
“If you’re not offending someone, you’re not doing it right,” he chuckled.
Inspired by a trip to Sin City several years ago, Chase is attempting to once again blend Vegas-style burlesque with musical theatre.
His first show, 2010’s Ruby Red, was based on the story of The Wizard of Oz. He followed that up with Lost Girls of Neverland.
Burlesque wasn’t something the Capilano University film grad had envisioned himself pursuing as a genre.
“I’d done Ruby Red as a one-off — I wanted to cross it off my bucket list,” he said.
But people kept asking him when the next one was coming.
With a cast of 18, and another dozen or so people working behind the scenes the load has lightened considerably since Chase’s first show.
“Everyone’s pulling double duty. It’s so much easier having a team and feeling comfortable with them,” he said
Chase wrote Grimm Girls and is producing the show, but this time he’s handed off directorial duties. They’re being shared by Michael Kovac (who is also acting in the show) and choreographer Dawn Euen.
The cast, meanwhile, is made up of performers of all shapes and sizes — and none of them will be hiding their light under a bushel, so to speak.
“Everyone is confident and comfortable in their own skin,” said Chase.
As with his past productions, there’s plenty of skin being shown, and he’s hopeful people will take that into consideration when they decide to buy tickets.
“I feel like it should be 18 and up,” he said. “People having a glass of wine or a beer while they watch in a laid-back environment.
“It’s not for kids. It’s definitely not for kids. But it’s very funny and adults are going to like it.”
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PAL theatre is located on the eighth floor of the Performing Arts Lodge, at 581 Cardero St. in Vancouver.
Grimm Girls will run May 10-12, 15-18 and 22-25. Shows start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20, available through brownpapertickets.com.
There will also be a half-price “Shake What Your Mama Gave You” show on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12.
