The show, opening tonight, features burlesque dancers and off-color jokes, among other things.
But the fifth annual show has something new this year: a matinee suitable for all ages. (The standard show is recommended for ages 16 and older only.)
“We’re taking away some of the acts that are not appropriate for children” for the Oct. 2 show, said Elizabeth Lord, the Olympia storyteller and actress who produces and hosts the show. (Her Lord Franzannian outfit is not to be missed.)
“Every year, parents say to me, ‘Can I bring my 5-year-old?’ and I have to say, ‘No, it will make people uncomfortable. Even if you are OK with your 5-year-old watching a burlesque dancer, other people might not be.’”
The Oct. 2 show also will have an added act: singing by Madisyn Dockery of Tumwater. Eleven-year-old Madisyn, in sixth grade at Michael T. Simmons Elementary, is the first child ever to come to the vaudeville auditions.
Because the regular show isn’t appropriate for younger audiences, Lord told Madisyn she wasn’t eligible to perform.
“She was ambitious,” Lord said. “She said, ‘Even if I can’t be in the show, can I perform for you right now?’
“She sang the Nirvana song ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ a cappella. She belted it out like you would see in musical theater.”
That’s to be expected for Madisyn, said her mom, Lora Dockery. “Madisyn wants to try out for everything. She will literally make me stop at Capitol Lake so that she can sing to people while they run.”
When she decided to have a matinee suitable for kids, Lord invited Madisyn to be a part of it. “She’s a talented singer,” Lord said.
Why “Smells Like Teen Spirit”?
“She is in a band called Birds of a Feather, and that’s one of the songs that they sing,” Dockery said. “They sing ‘House of the Rising Sun’ and ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ and a few other ones.”
The band performed at the Puyallup Fair this year. Madisyn also has twice won first place in the Grays Harbor County Fair talent show, in which she started competing at age 4.
Other additions to this year’s Spectacular Vaudeville Show: An accordion has joined the house band, and this is the first time there’ll be a stand-up comedian – Brent Blakley – performing in the show.
“He has this shy demeanor,” Lord said, “but the jokes he’s written are very clever. He’s going to write different material for the kids show.”
“I’m really excited there are so many strangers in the show – or strangers to me until I met them at the auditions,” she said.
One favorite will be missing, though: Sam Miller, who balances chairs, lawnmowers, etc. on his chin.
“He got married and he had a baby,” Lord said. “He’s caring for a little one this year.
“People keep asking, ‘Is Sam going to be there?’” she said. “I’m like, ‘No, he’s not, but will you still come?’”
