There will be more to see at the Brackley Drive-In on Sunday night than just the movies.
The Dark Knight Rises leads off the double-bill with Magic Mike, a movie about a male stripper teaching a young performer how to party, pick up women and make easy money, capping off the evening.
Bob Boyle, who owns the drive-in, got to thinking it would be the perfect time of the summer to go with a ladies' night theme. The Dark Knight Rises and Magic Mike play at the drive-in July 20-26 but the ladies' night theme is Sunday only.
So, he went out and hired Prince Edward Island's only male exotic dancer.
Chris Cannon, who's been entertaining women for the past five years, leapt at the opportunity.
Boyle and Cannon promise the 'performance' will be PG-14, meaning nothing comes off from the waist down.
"It's got a lot of people interested. I think we're going to be packed on Sunday night. It's one night only,'' Boyle said Wednesday.
Cannon will appear on stage under the big screen following The Dark Knight Rises, probably around midnight. Boyle said he'll let the movie credits roll and wait until the end of an eight-minute intermission, to give those who wish to leave time to do so before the exotic show begins.
The movie Magic Mike contains what the production company refers to as "brief, graphic nudity'' as is rated PG-14 in Canada but carries a stricter R rating in the U.S.
Boyle says those taking in Cannon's performance will see less than the movie offers. Of the 9,000 Facebook fans the drive-in has, 71 per cent of them are female.
Cannon, 29, attended Holland College and got his computer degree before moving out west to work for IBM. That's where he got to know some male exotic dancers, caught the eye of one of their managers and performed in front of 150 women.
"I was sold on it right away. It's a pretty phenomenal job. (Good money) for the summer months,'' Cannon said Wednesday, noting that he works five to six days a week doing private parties, birthdays, bachelorettes, breakup parties, divorce parties, staff events and fundraisers.
"Prince Edward Island is the wedding capital of eastern Canada. A lot of people get married out here. I thought 'Why not? I might as well enjoy the summer here and take my pants off while I'm doing it.'''
Cannon said he works to stay in good shape. He goes to the gym six days a week and tries to eat healthy.
"My friends will go out for pizza and wings and I'll be there eating a salad.''
Cannon says he has a passion for what he does and plans on doing it as long as he can, and as long as he isn't getting booed off the stage.
"It's done classy. You're never walking around completely naked (except) for a flash here and there.''
Cannon said he's been pleasantly surprised at how accepted he's been on the Island. He took part in a meet-and-greet at Marco Polo Land during a summer kickoff party last month and will hand out and sign 8x10 photos at the drive-in Sunday.
Cannon said his mother even approves.
"She was a little hesitant at first . . . but she warmed up to the idea that it's not much different than a day at the beach, really. Tracadie beach, that is,'' he laughed.
On the Web: www.chriscannon.ca
