Review-Forever Crazy-Crazy Horse Paris
19-9-13
By: Meaghan McGurgan
When you're reviewing a show and dance troupe that's been in existence for 60 years you know your review will hold very little weight with the performers. They've built a successful brand that people enjoy. This review is more for the audience members who are new to burlesque and don't know what Crazy Horse is and whether they will enjoy it or not.
For our high-rolling readers where money is no object, this is a show you must go see. It's beautiful, it's expensive, it's got very high production values and the ladies are beautiful. For our more money-conscious readers the steep ticket prices might deter you from seeing it. I know that almost 1000 dollars for a ticket is just completely out of reach for a lot of my friends.
Want to know the worst thing about the show last night? The audience. They were super quiet. Eerily quiet. They golf clapped their way through The Crazy Horse, which was weird. And I think it was the vast size of the APA which really worked against the performers. First of all, it was half empty. They didn't sell the top balcony for this production and the style of Burlesque is really more suited for a dark cabaret venue over this huge proscenium stage. The lack of audience participation made some of the numbers fall flat.
Performance-wise the show is really top-notch. There's a little bit of something for everyone. The show is a mixture of solo routines and big group numbers made famous by the group. They opened the show with God Save Our Bareskin which is their very famous play on the London guards. Who knew tassels made such fabulous merkins?
Serious props should be given to the design team on this one. Roselyne Drouy designed beautiful costumes for the numbers. But the thing as a theatrical person that I really wanted to see The Crazy Horse for was their lighting designs. They're famous for them. Their integration of light and video projection turns the human body into more than nudity. It's pure art. My favorite lighting moments were in Baby Bun and Crisis! What Crisis? which was a very sexy solo with a stock broker. The sound design choice in her number was also really well done.
My favorite routine belonged to Daizy Blu and Final Fantasy. This was the best one, for me. It was based off of Japanese rope bondage and somehow the knots turned into an aerial routine. Really beautifully designed and well thought out. What really sold the routine was her facial expression, her commitment to the character and connection with the audience.
I also really loved Upside Down which used the goddess Britney Spears as its musical choice. It played with lights and mirrors to turn the human body into much more.
I liked the numbers that were a bit more creative. The creativity of Crazy Horse is what's kept it in business for 60 years.
Now there were some things that weren't my faves. I thought Peek a Boo was completely forgettable and a bit boring. Purple Underground had a very beautiful girl in the center spot but the lighting and video in this section was migraine inducing.
The mystery of Hong Kong audiences continues when the only male cast member comes out, Robert Muraine. They whooped for him! They applauded for him!! They ovationed for him!!! Now, don't get me wrong. Mr. Muraine is ridiculously talented and I was in shock at his skill level during his routine. He must have no bones or something.... I just wish HK audiences would lighten up a bit and show the ladies equal love.
It's not creepy to show the same appreciation to a female performer that you show a male just because she's naked. She's just been up there dancing for you. If you DON'T clap that's a much bigger offense. I loved The Crazy Horse ladies. I just wish the ticket prices were a bit more reasonable so I could drag my friends out this weekend to see them.
Forever Crazy plays at the APA until Saturday. For more information, click here.
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