Chippendales not all about stripping

MEMBERS of the all-male group currently in town: (Top row, from left) Kevin, Kris, Bryan, (second row, from left) Michael, Matt, Vanja, Josh and Dylan. photo: Kimberly de la Cruz

The popular all-male sexy dance group Chippendales is in the country for a three-city tour dubbed “The Ultimate Girls’ Night Out.” However, if you ladies are expecting to see a scene straight out of the movie “Magic Mike”—as in, a group of ripped, good-looking men running around with nothing on but thongs stuffed with bills—sorry to disappoint, but that’s not happening.

It won’t make the shows less fun though, member Kevin Cornell said. Fans will still see skin, bulging muscles and whatever else the men will feel like showing. But the group isn’t all about stripping—at least not anymore. Kevin promised a Las Vegas-style show filled with different acts that showcase each of the members’ strengths and talents.

Female fantasy

“It’s basically like Disneyland for women, female fantasy brought to life onstage. There will be singing, dancing and production numbers,” Kevin, who has been a member of the Chippendales for 12 years, said at a press con. “We don’t consider ourselves strippers. We don’t go around for tips. We do stage performance.”

Bryan Cheatham, the “dance captain,” added that the group was a far cry from what it was in the 1980s. “We do full-scale Broadway-like shows. We work with choreographers who have previously worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and N’Sync,” Bryan told the Inquirer.

According to Bryan, among their most applauded acts were the “James Bond” and “Men in Black” numbers. “Our military officer and cowboy numbers are also quite popular. We even incorporate acrobatics and martial arts,” he said.

Joining Kevin and Bryan on this tour are six other members: Michael Lattino, Matt Marshall, Vanja Kapetanovic, Kris Davis, Josh Dubois and Dylan Rush. The Chippendales has 22 members in all.

Having performed in many different countries in the past, the Chippendales has had a fair share of funny and freaky experiences. One of them, Kris said, happened in London and involved an overly eager 89-year-old woman.

“So this lady was having fun on the stage, waving her hands. I think she got a little too excited and bit a member’s butt … Her dentures fell off!” Kris said, laughing.

Bizarre

Kevin recalled a bizarre encounter with an obsessed fan girl, who came knocking on his hotel window in the middle of the night after a show. “This woman somehow found my room by climbing the fire escape!” he related.

Are they expecting similar experiences with their Filipino fans? Not really, said Kevin. During the Chippendales’ Manila show in 2011, Kevin observed that Pinays were more reserved than their counterparts in the West.

“I’d like to see how the Pinays have changed … I hope to get some room keys, probably see some underwear with phone numbers being thrown onstage,” he exclaimed.

And how does he plan to make the ladies lose their inhibitions? “Probably with a lot of alcohol,” Kevin quipped.

A Charice fan

Told by a writer that Charice recently came out as a lesbian, Bryan, who claimed to be a fan of the international singer, gave this “open invitation” to his idol, “Come see our show! You might rethink your decision!” He then sang a few lines of “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. After which, the eight towering men—all wearing jeans and black tanks—mingled with female bloggers and writers waiting for photo ops.

The women asked the men to give samples of what could be expected of the show. “Well, you have to watch the show and find out!” Kevin teased.

After Cebu City, the “Ultimate Girls’ Night Out” will run tonight and tomorrow at the Resorts World Manila, Pasay City; then on June 15 at the Hotel Stotsenberg in Angeles City, Pampanga.

For inquiries, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph/chippendaleslive