Steph C.
Yelp
My friends and I went to Le Crazy Horse during a Paris trip last month, and it was a really fun night out, a fantastic cabaret with dazzling acts and high production value. We opted to buy tickets that came with half-bottles of champagne and that was the correct choice. Nothing like some bubbly wine to make you feel festive instead of pervy while you watch nude dancing girls! girls! girls!
We were told to arrive early to ensure decent seating, but we arrived just in time to check our coats and use the bathroom, and we got great seats in the second or third row. The emcee was a flamboyantly dressed man who approached his role with delight, and he was right next to us while he did his introduction. The venue was kitschy and over the top, with lips and breasts incorporated into the decor. The seats were comfortable and loungey, and we had a small table to hold our three glasses and an ice bucket with a bottle and half-bottle of champagne.
The show was a genuine spectacle, with twenty remarkable numbers with distinctive music, choreography, and lighting. There were several exuberant group numbers, as well as solos and duets highlighting different performers. A couple of middle-aged men came in as the night's guest act. They were talented jugglers who did a comic, acrobatic strip dance but did not have the Magic Mike physique.
The burlesque dancers were beautiful and performed almost naked like 70% of the time. Speaking as a straight woman, I found the nudity aesthetically appealing but not especially sexual. The vibe was very tongue-in-cheek ooh-la-la than and there was an intentional uniformity to the performers' bodies, as well as their wigs and make-up, that blurred their individuality and put the focus on their movements and artistry. I saw all these women without their clothes on, and I doubt I could've recognized any of them on the street a minute after the cabaret. The performers also had drag queen-like stage names that must help protect their privacy. Now that I think about it, the whole cabaret was more like a drag show than anything else I've seen, with talented performers disappearing into their personas.
Everything, by the way, was in English, and it seemed like most of the crowd was American. Le Crazy Horse has a strong reputation in the States and has entertained many international celebrities over the years, all of their named listed on plaques on a prominent wall (we remain curious about the famous visitor with the mononym "Dave").
We still had a little champagne left at the end of the show, and we were able to finish it at the little bar area. We then visited the gift shop on the way out, where my friends bought a couple of cute souvenirs. We also wanted a picture in the lobby, and the staff was super friendly and indulged us with a whole mini photo shoot.
Le Crazy Horse is probably not for everyone, but my friends and I were impressed and had a splendid time. If you aren't easily scandalized and enjoy some extravagant theater, check out this world-famous cabaret next time you're in Paris.