Feathers and flexibility at Cabaret De Paris on the Gold Coast

Having watched Tap Dogs here a few months ago, I brace myself for a dramatic beginning and find it quite relaxing when the lights simply fade out, and the sounds of a bustling French street fill my ears. (No spilled chardy!)
A disco ball spins at the top of the theatre. The light shoots out like lasers from the speckled mirror and reflects into my eyes. A human sequin takes the stage. She’s little, but has legs up to her armpits. She speaks sultry French to the audience, a voice as smooth as melting chocolate.
Marissa Burgess is the undeniable star of Jupiters’ latest stage show, Cabaret De Paris, and she is absolutely dazzling. I’m not just talking about her costume; her voice alone will take you all the way to Paris and you won’t even have to leave Broadbeach.

Cabaret de Paris is all about long legs, feather boas and sequins so bright you’ll be reaching for your sunnies. Teenie-tiny costumed dancers bring a whole lot of pizzazz to the stage wearing frilly feathers and their flexibility makes me want to sign up to a burlesque dance class as soon as I leave the auditorium.

Apart from some seriously hot moves, there’s aerial pole dancing, cartwheels and the extremely talented Mysteriaque, a duo from Paris who also hail from the Moulin Rouge. These adagio (acrobatic) dancers will have you hand-over-mouth gasping during their lifts, gravity-defying leg extensions and bending-body moves. Another highlight is the Quick Change act, which is the art of changing a costume at supersonic speed. So just how many outfits is that lady really wearing? You’ll have to come see for yourself!
There’s even magic and Illusionist Michael Boyd will have you screaming “oh no he didn’t!” and Justin Case, an acrobatic cyclist with a great sense of humour, will ride the smallest bike you’ve ever seen.

And it certainly wouldn’t be Paris without showgirls. So can can, can you do the Cancan? No, I certainly can’t. But the tiny waisted dancers on stage can and did, all night. Seriously, those high kicks… how?

When the curtains close in front of the dancers, the crowd erupts with standing applause. More than just showgirls, sequins and stilettos, this show is, as they say, a feast for the senses. The meal is cabaret, the flavour is French. So bon appétit!

Cabaret de Paris runs until October 11. Book your tickets here.