A Professional Burlesque Performer Reveals Her Secrets
Behind-the-scenes documentary short for the Mindflips Las Vegas entertainment series. Hazel Honeysuckle, who plays the Green Fairy in the acclaimed Las Vegas show Absinthe, walks through her complete act step by step, explaining costume mechanics, audience interaction technique, the psychology of burlesque performance, and her journey to self-confidence through the art form. A rare, candid look inside one of Las Vegas's most talked-about adult entertainment productions.
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Full Script
Hazel Honeysuckle, professional burlesque performer and Green Fairy in Absinthe:
Burlesque means a different thing to every single person. But for me, it's been a path to self-confidence. There's a freedom to it. A rebellious streak that burlesque has allowed me to develop.
My name is Hazel Honeysuckle. I play the green fairy in Absinthe. I think that the wig is what makes me feel the most like the green fairy. I'm used to seeing my face in makeup for my burlesque career, but when I put the green fairy wig on, that is real. It makes me feel like I am that character. She's not so different from me. Just a little louder, probably.
It's usually only a few minutes until the kabuki falls. That way, I get my first look at the whole audience. The feather drop signifies the trip into the world of absinthe. I say hi to everyone.
The snaps are the start of the interactive portion. I make sure to look into as many people's eyes as possible and I snap and you can see them go, oh, she's looking at me. I'd better snap.
The table is a big part of my act because it limits where I can move and how far I can move. It's like a silent partner in the act.
I make all kinds of faces during the act. I don't just have one feeling about what I'm doing. This is not just a seduction, it's tease. It's fierce. It's funny. It's so many different things.
I often choose a woman in a couple. They get a big kick out of it, and it means a lot to me to make both the men and the women comfortable in my act. I think it's really important that people realize that burlesque is not just for the men because boobs come out. It's for everybody.
The audience is a huge part of the energy that I have onstage. Without the audience, I wouldn't have an act. It's a striptease. You're not teasing if you're not teasing anyone.
The corset is a symbol of women being forced into certain roles. I always like to make a face at it when I throw it down the aisle, like, screw you.
The interesting thing about tassel twirling is it's not an inherently sexy move. It's a lot more of a rebellious thing to do. This careless joy of shaking around, being naked, free, and happy.
I hope that the women that see my act go away feeling like they don't have to take things so seriously. That sexiness is fun. Burlesque isn't going to save the world, but it's going to help us feel better while we try to.
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