My how the busty have fallen. Two years ago “Boobs and Goombas” surprised and delighted audiences across Chicago with its carefully calibrated mix of playful geekery and partial nudity. But this burlesque holiday special, though it uses some of the same tactics (and cast members) is barely skating by on holiday cheer.

The difference between “Boobs and Goombas” and this show is the difference between “A Christmas Story” (original, irreverent, quotable) and “The Santa Clause 3” (derivative, lazy, self-referential). Rather than attempting a new Christmas story (perhaps involving a sexy Santa) this show is a mostly plotless hard sell on all the other current and past GTB shows, with characters from different universes mingling together in rather nonsensical ways. This could still work if the choreography felt clever or innovative but most of the time it feels half-hearted as well. The lovely cast works hard to sell this forty-five-minute advertisement but at the end of the night you leave wishing you’d seen one of the other shows that just got talked up instead. (Zach Freeman)

Gorilla Tango Burlesque, 1919 North Milwaukee, (773)598-4549. Through December 28. (Half-Priced Tickets)