The Paris Underground Cabaret

The Paris Underground Cabaret returns to Melbourne and the opening of the new season went off with quite a bang, I expected nothing less and received more, expectations exceeded. Treated to a feast of sophisticated performances, we had a taste of magic, circus, song, dance, burlesque, and if all this is not enough to satisfy, there was clever comedy to carry us gracefully through the show.  All this packaged into a seductive cabaret, a visual sensation that delighted the eye accompanied by the pleasure of French singing and music to be relished throughout.

If you want to be allured into the world of the risqué and explore the secret passions of your inner devilish dark side then see this rare and sensational show, leave behind the mundane and escape to Paris, in the heart of Melbourne. This is performance theatre at its best.   

Each performance has it’s own unique flavor, all classy, all skilled and all so different; variety here is the key and in keeping with the European cabaret theme.  We witnessed the rare magic of Julia Madotti, who is one of Australia’s few female illusionists, supplemented by the extremely talented Richard Vegas, who brings a wealth of experience, 20 years of stage, film and radio complements his repertoire.  

Not only do we get a taste of Richard Vegas as the illusionist and magician extraordinaire, but he is also our MC for the night - MC Maestro Monsieur Marveaux, so witty, so debonair and handsome. Vegas carried the night with ease and great presence, never once drawing our attention away; we were wanting more of what was to come, surprise after surprise. He made great use of the unspoken language with gestures and subtle facial expressions, quite amazing and very charismatic.

The beauty of circus performers Hannah Trott and Tim Rutty were breathtaking, such precision, skill and elegance. It never ceases to amaze me what a human body is actually capable of; these are trained masters of this rare and wonderful trade, who have perfected their vocation. It is a pleasure to witness. 

A classic French Cabaret is not complete without a burlesque artist and The Paris Underground presents showgirl Zelia Rose. She was stunning, her performances so sexy, sassy and brilliant, the costumes were dazzling and she just owned the stage, all glitz and glamour.   

I just have to credit each of the seven performers, such a small number they were, but there might as well have been 40 artists on that stage, their many and varied individual performances gave as much as any large cast.

Eden Read lead much of the dancing, giving us classic, good old fashioned tap, ranging from solos to the accompaniment of all seven together on stage; a little cheeky humour had one lady in the front row just lose herself in fits of laughter.  Possibly my favourite was Aurora Kurth - the very sensual, racy performances by this charming chanteuse engaged the audience brilliantly. She moved in on us and took command.  Her singing voice was tremendously powerful, outstanding and spine tingling.  

The Paris Underground is an explosion of colour and sound that tantalizes all the pleasurable senses of body and mind. Escape into this sexy world of fantasy.  With a cast of locally and worldwide acclaimed performers it is a night of entertainment you will never forget.

Lisa Romeo