Arts & Culture
The Smell of the Greasepaint, The Roar of the Crowd
Spiegeltent is here!
Cabaret is without question the most intimate performing art. There is a unique understanding between audience and performer with the removal of the 4th wall, that invisible barrier that asks the audience to suspend disbelief so that they can witness, from a distance, a story being told. Cabaret shatters that 4th wall, and the audience becomes part of the story.
The old showbiz adage, ‘smell of the greasepaint, roar of the crowd’ refers to live performance that is so intimate the audience can actually smell the stage makeup and performers become engulfed in the robust audience response. Done well, Cabaret can be an invigorating evening of delight for audience and performer.
Spiegeltent, in residence only through December at the Gaillard Center, is now presenting cabaret done very well. Cabaret Royale, a London troupe of outstanding international performers, offers up what can only be described as cabaret on steroids. Mixing comedy bits with classic burlesque and athletic performances drawn from the circus, Cabaret Royale gives audiences an unforgettable evening of interactive entertainment.
Led by saucy Emcee “Poppy Livingston” the 90-minute show interweaves the disparate themes of time travel and Christmas into a wonderfully absurd succession of breathtaking performances accompanied by in-your-face music and lighting effects. The production is seamless, the performers charming and the Spiegeltent (toasty even in chilly weather) a perfectly intimate venue for the shenanigans afoot.
According to The Gaillard, “You’ll feel transported into a world of mischief, magic, and marvel – perfect for a festive night out with friends, a date filled with excitement, or an adventurous holiday tradition in the making.”
Though Cabaret Royale is appropriate for people 18 and over (one of the performers was crowned the “Dutchess of Burlesque 2024”!), it is light and fun and provides an experience you’ll not soon forget.
We are grateful that The Gaillard Center continues to bring a wide variety of performances to the cultural savvy audiences of Charleston. Check out Cabaret Royale in the Spiegeltent at The Gaillard Center through December 20th.
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