London is currently enjoying a wave of Parisian culture; we lived in Breton tops, dined solely on macaroons, and re-watched Breathless, but the latest French import comes in a slightly more riske form. This week marks the launch of Paris’ infamous Le Crazy Horse night. Situated in the secretive Supper Club in Notting Hill, the debut of the one-month-only London burlesque spectacular saw the crème de la crème of London treated to dinner and a show in the French revolutionary style of burlesque.
Far from the sleazy cliché of The Moulin Rouge, Le Crazy Horse presents a fresh show that was fun, exciting, and just had a certain, je ne sais que? The opening night was kick-started by a glittering drag queen belting out ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, and an impossibly flexible girl suspended in the centre of the theatre on a revolving hoop. Theatricality certainly replaces any hint of the sordid, and the elegant setting makes the night feel modern and avant-garde. The burlesque performance itself is charming, with plenty of peek-a-boo moments, dashing between string curtains, and the girls miming along to pop classics.
The evening is also surprisingly tasteful and artistic; though the girls were sometimes completely nude, the lighting design projects patterns on their bodies so one feels slightly less perverted for staring at a harem of naked women for an hour.
The original show in Paris, which began in 1951, made the leap from late-night, seedy show to glamorous fashionista destination by employing the covetable couture of design legend Christian Louboutin, shoes being the one item of clothing the girls don’t lose.
The stylish element of the show has earned Le Crazy Horse a cult following amongst the A-listers, with clientele such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Madonna, and drawn in celebrity performers such as Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, and Dita Von Teese.
The Supper Club’s red carpet on Tuesday was graced by fashion legends Alice Temperly and Todd Lynn, rock royalty Ronnie Wood, celebrity hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, it girl Alice Dellal, mad hatter Philip Treacy, as well as Kings of Leon, Jacquetta Wheeler, Graham Norton, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Katy England, and a fleet more!
Le Crazy Horse London took place in May/June 2012.
By Charlotte M Davey
