Sat. Aug. 27

We live in a world where hardcore pornography is a mouseclick away. (Literally.) Everything sexual has been amped up past the point of no return and there's some pretty scary studies about what kids learn about sex these days because of porn sites. There's also the New Burlesque movement, which really took shape in the middle of the last decade and has established itself in Boston and elsewhere. It's sexy, sassy and swaggering, sure, but it brings the titillation level down to a PG-13 or R level, and it doesn't make you feel like a member of the raincoat brigade (oldsters will remember those guys, the XXX-movie patrons when movie theaters showed smut, pre-VCR).
   Boston Babydolls are this city's reigning troupes and we checked in with its impressario Mr. Scratch about what's happening at the Regent Theater in Arlington Sunday Aug. 27.
  "MADAME BURLESQUE (REDUX): An Evening of Tributes" is a two-hour show, Scratch e-mailed us, that "is a version of the show we've been touring with this summer.  Because we expected to be done with the tour by August, one of the regular performers (Evie Sphinx) is out of town for the show on August 27.  We've replaced her acts with some fabulous new stuff, so anyone who saw the show when we were in Central Square at the beginning of July is getting 16-2/3% new material.
   "The show is an homage to the legendary ladies of burlesque – Gypsy Rose Lee, Sally Rand, Blaze Starr, April March, and others.  The acts are all vintage-style acts inspired by these great performers.  These aren't exacting re-creations of the original numbers; burlesque from the 1950s would mostly seem quaint to a modern audience.  These are modern recastings of great concepts. One of the highlights of the show is Miss Mina Murray's tribute to April March. "The First Lady of Burlesque".  This act was created with Miss March's assistance and input.  It includes a replica of one of her bespoke costumes, music that was originally written for Miss March and orchestrated by Boston Babydolls bandleader Dave D'Aranjo, and a set piece patterned after the one Miss March used when she performed in The Minsky Show."
   It's a strip show - but one with pasties and panties - and it "includes some variety: singing by Corinne Southern, classic comedy, and even some mentalism from Babydoll Guy, Scratch."
   Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 the day of the show.
   7 Medford St., Arlington, 781-6464TIX  http://regenttheatre.com/details/madame_burlesque