When I say that Stash House was packed for the Tennessee Tease's inaugural burlesque show, I don't mean that it was crowded. I mean that it was impossible to move around. It was a crowd much more suited to the Hi-Tone or the P&H rather than someone's living room. Those of us in the front were squatting on the floor, and dozens more were standing behind us, craning to see the dancers. The whole thing had a very Memphis, speakeasy sort of vibe. Though shows are a frequent at Stash House, it's a private residence. The show was BYOB, and people had brought everything from 40s of High Life to nice bottles of wine and moonshine-soaked cherries. Two guys on the porch were taking up the $5 cover, and a handful of people were sitting on couches, watching TV. There was no stage - the show was the living room- so the dancers worked in a maybe-10-feet-long corner of the room sectioned off by rope lights. So, it was that much more amazing that the dancer that got the most applause during the show was the one that did a slow, arching backflip into a waiting chair. I was completely blown away by the hour-long show. The acts included two girls eating TV dinners in lingerie (possibly the only time microwave peas have ever been seductive), a fan dance by Fatty McLure, a sultry song by Chloe du Bois and dancer Lolo Louisa, getting dressed (the only time I've ever heard anyone yell "Put it on!" at a burlesque show).Between acts, the emcee - a busty middle-aged woman in a sequined cat sweater - teased the crowd with songs and "games of concentration". It's also worth mentioning the opening act, Fille Catatonique. Fille, who's known in real life as Marcella Rene Simien, is a mesmerizing Creole girl with an accordion and a voice like a humid summer night. The troupe focuses on burlesque in the vaudeville sense. While there are girls stripping, the acts are more about the tease than the payoff. There's also plenty of singing (the troupe has a cast member listed as "songstress"), comedy, and variety acts. Tennessee Tease Burlesque is having their first big stage show, Venus Envy, on Feb. 11th at Newbys.