Photo Flash: First Look at THE RUBY BESLER CABARET at the Hollywood Fringe Festival

FUNNY, SEXY, FIVE NIGHTS ONLY: THE RUBY BESLER CABARET AT THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL; STARTS JUNE 11 AT THE ELEPHANT STAGE.

"Funny is the New Sexy" is the theme of this show. Actually, funny has always been sexy and, as if to underscore the point, the eponymous star of The Ruby Besler Cabaret is the perfection in fashion, face and figure of the archetypal 1940s Dame, as seductive with a witty lyric or line of dialogue as she is with her curves.

Ruby is portrayed by the star and principal writer of this show, Anastasia Barnes, who is also a terrific singer. Ms. Barnes originally created the character of Ruby Besler in a popular web series in which Ruby gives advice to women (and occasionally to men) on sex and romance, always followed by an original novelty song with a sound appropriate to the 40s period. The advice is funny and very, very frank, as she advises ladies to keep their "panties on and heels on the ground."

Ms. Barnes adapts the Ruby character to the cabaret setting. Ruby has gone to secretarial school in Manhattan while pursuing the dream (which she of course achieves) of being a Broadway star. Along the way, she beds and loses a great love before moving on to the next chapter of an adventurous life.

Although Ruby is definitely the star of the show, she is by no means alone on stage. There's pianist Dorothy Diamond (portrayed by musical director Gere Fennelly), multimedia, and also her dancers, The Rubies (Tatiana Giannoutsos, Regan Carrington, Laurel Vecsey, and choreographer Flame Cynders, all from the Fishnet Follies Classic Burlesque Revue).

There's no nudity here, however. Although there are elements of burlesque, they more convey the glamorous, feminine, retro sexuality of the period: Somewhat naughty, but not lurid. And Miss Barnes has a lot of fun with her character and certainly knows how to use her curves to full effect and her lovely singing ability to sell her songs.

The show suffered from the heat inside the Elephant Space on opening night and poor Ms. Barnes was drenched in sweat halfway through the show, perhaps causing her to lose her place and skip around her lines a bit. But the choreography is fun, if a bit under-rehearsed, and the humor certainly is for adults only. And there were some very cute bits with graphics presented by Ms. Violet Ruby who wore her costume very well.

The World Premiere engagement of the funny, sexy new show The Ruby Besler Cabaret continues through June 29 with four more performances during the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Let her sing a song for you and make you laugh, and you just may want to take her home with you.

Written and produced by Anastasia Barnes. Additional dialogue by Jim Senti. Directed by Doug Oliphant. Music by Gere Fennelly and Anastasia Barnes. Musical director: Gere Fennelly. Choreography by Flame Cynders.

WHERE: The Elephant Stage, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 8:30 p.m.; Friday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, June 20 at 10:00 p.m.; Tuesday, June 25 at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 29 at 10:00 p.m.

ADMISSION: $12.00. Except June 11, when admission is Pay What You Can. RESERVATIONS: (323) 455-4585. ONLINE TICKETING: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1117?tab=dates WEBSITE: www.therubybeslershow.com

CONSUMER ADVISORY: Adult content. Inappropriate for children.

Follow Ruby on Facebook and Twitter/RubyBesler, #RubyRules.

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