La Vie En Rouge

The belle epoque is delightfully recreated in this original cabaret performance which explores the strong relationships among the women who populated this titillating and controversial era. Genevieve (Jessica May) operates a parlour to entertain men alongside Seraphina (Elyse Batson).  A young, naïve Yvette (Hanna Holmes) seeks to learn the arts of seduction from her two mentors but ultimately gets some tough lessons in life and love. The story has all the usual twists and turns typical of the setting and the narrative is driven forward by some exceptional performances of songs which beautifully evoke the era and the emotional states of the three women. 

The Speakeasy Theatre is a perfect environment to stage the play and the set design is rich and meticulous in its detail. The intense passion exudes both the stage and costume design and beautifully draws the audience into the world of the characters. The vocal performances are stunning, and as the show progresses the vocal talent of the performers becomes increasingly apparent. The songs, which include numbers by Edith Piaf, Roberta Flack, The Poxy Boggards and Jekyll and & Hyde, are sweetly accompanied by Stacey-Louise Camilleri on the piano, and this is very effective in capturing the atmosphere of the historical period. The performances are impish and energetic and go a long way in creating a raunchy environment. However, the tongue in cheek approach to the dialogue and scenarios does not always convey the fundamental serious drama of the story and sometimes seems at odds with the overall fun-filled intent of the play.  

Patricia Di Risio 

Photographer: Ben Andrews