Category Archives: Music

Crazy Horse Paris Presents Forever Crazy, Southbank

Posted on by

Wow! Be warned, this is not a show for the weak-hearted.

Infamous cabaret club Le Crazy Horse Paris bring their new show Forever Crazy to London, a titillating display of beautiful bodies and captivating moves. The production is housed in a luxurious purpose-built Southbank venue. This raunchy cabaret show was opened in 1951 by Alain Bernardin on the prestigious Avenue George V and is known for its glamorous nude cabaret attracting a cool bohemian crowd. Le Crazy Horse has collaborated with celebrity guests such as Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Arielle Dombasle and Dita Von Teese. Throughout its history the Crazy Horse girls have been muses to artists, writers and fashion designers. They have walked in couture presentations and performed for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses.

My friend and I visited Forever Crazy on opening night, with no idea of the excitement and heart-wrenching envy we were about to endure. The dimly lit tent is decorated with flirtatious neon signs. In the auditorium audience members sit at cabaret tables around the room, ensuring a good view for everyone, but an absolute nightmare for the poor waitresses.

The ten Crazy girls are perhaps the most beautiful women on the planet. Despite recently watching the Moulin Rouge show in Paris, I felt naïve and unsophisticated witnessing this glorified striptease. Plumped and pouting to perfection, poised ready to deliver, these girls are too hot to handle. Don’t take your boyfriend, I even found myself getting hot under the collar. Seriously sexy, men and women will be transfixed by the dancing and exhilarating acts.

For me, it was the visuals that were most impressive. Staggering lighting design and direction from the creative team accentuate the talented performers and create wildly imaginative optical illusions. It is a feast for the eyes. My favourite acts were ‘Upside Down’ a kaleidoscope of sensuality, and ‘God Save our Bareskin’ where a well rehearsed army of girls stomp about in Royal Guards uniforms.

Overflowing with Parisian glamour and allure, these seductive French Fancies will leave you stunned and stuttering all the way home.

Forever Crazy runs until 24th December 2012 at Southbank. Tickets start from £35 and special Champagne and show packages are available.

For more info, visit: http://www.forevercrazy.co.uk/

Julietta, ENO

Posted on by

Modern opera often deters me but Julietta makes for a surprisingly enjoyable evening. Designer Antony McDonald has created an enchanting set with a glorious moving accordion which the performers use as a climbing frame for the action.

The story is based on Surrealist play ‘Juliette’ by Georges Neveux. It is a strange but oddly effective narrative… Michel, a Parisian bookseller discovers a small coastal town and slowly becomes aware that the inhabitants have no memory. The world of the present envelops him and he gradually loses his sanity as he realises his own reality is empty and dull. It is his powerful love for Julietta that persuades him to stay in this bizarre dreamland.

The show took a while to warm up… initially the madness feels incongruous with the confident orchestra and beautiful set, the acting just isn’t convincing enough. But as the evening progressed, I felt more absorbed by the crazy surrealist world. Act 2 is particularly captivating as the young couple meet in a nearby forest. While the love scene commences, musicians wander in the background playing instruments nonchalantly. The cast are tight and together… often I get the feeling casts do not enjoy performing more contemporary operatic work, but Julietta seems to spark the ENO chorus. Peter Hoare is exceptional as the lead, Michel Lepic, he sings with clarity of tone and with an affecting passion. I found Julia Sporsen unnerving and scary and her voice soars through the auditorium. Andrew Shore and Henry Waddington impress in the lesser roles.

The orchestra headed up by Edward Gardner seems very comfortable with the quirky modern Martinu score. Despite the obvious dissonances, the music does not lack melody and at times is startlingly beautiful, the ENO orchestra does a commendable job demonstrating its strengths.

Another example of the ENO company producing work that is innovative and creative without losing universal appeal.

Continues until 3 October, book here.

Cantina, Southbank Centre

Posted on by

Cantina is a short and eccentric cabaret show headlining at Southbank’s Priceless London Wonderground, in the Udderbelly venue. Fresh from tours of Australia and Europe, the petite cast are gleefully confident on stage, prancing about with no apparent fear.

Chilling and dangerously dark at times, this production will certainly hold your attention. Created specifically for a spiegeltent, this cosy environment suits the production perfectly. It is not your average cabaret, this show is definitely more sultry than sexy. The impressive pain the performers seem to endure is wincingly captivating though scarily disturbing at times. Some acts are better than others, I found the silly baby voice of Chelsea McGuffin, along with the heel stomping and bottle balancing, immensely irritating and unnecessary. It is slender, wide-eyed Finnish contortionist Henna Kaikula who interested and impressed me most, her lyrical movements and secretive nature are alluring to watch.

The acts focus on the precarious relationships between men and women. Some of the choreography is dark and aggressive, balletic dance develops into harsh movements. Whilst this is powerful and entrancing, I wonder quite how necessary the violent abusive insinuations are. I feel particularly pained for David Carberry who endures the brunt of the hostility.

It is a lovely extra to have live music on stage while the acts commence, the lilting melodies and gentle rhythms add an exhilarating energy to the production and gives the proceedings edge. It is well thought through and there are moments of humour although I am not entirely sure about the naked newspaper scene, you’ll have to go to understand this as I’m too embarrassed to explain!

These talented artists twist and contort for our amusement, and judging by the audience reaction their sombre circus is a resounding triumph. I have some reservations but commend the cast on a well composed and perfected piece of dramatic work.

Continues until 30 September, more information here.