one4review | On 24, Aug 2026

I found it really difficult to review this show. There were elements I absolutely loved and would happily have given five stars to, but unfortunately, the 20 minutes of fantastic burlesque were buried beneath around 40 minutes of a lacklustre play with some questionable writing and uneven acting. This awkward, Frankenstein-esque reimagining of Moulin Rouge is an ambitious idea, but unfortunately it never quite manages to bring its various parts together into a cohesive whole.

Another big issue for me was the venue. Sitting in the third row, fairly centrally, I still couldn’t see around half of the show because the seating consisted of rows of chairs on a flat floor facing a barely raised stage. Guests from the fourth row backwards, of around 12 rows in total, appeared to struggle immensely to get a decent view, with many having to shift constantly in their seats just to catch what was happening. For a show that relies so heavily on visual performance, this was particularly unfortunate and made it difficult to fully appreciate what was happening on stage.

When the burlesque arrived, however, the difference was striking. The performers demonstrated genuine confidence, energy and talent, and these sections were easily the highlight of the evening. There is clearly a troupe here with a lot of potential, and I found myself wishing there had been considerably more opportunity for them to showcase what they do best.

That is ultimately what makes the show frustrating rather than simply disappointing. There is talent here, and plenty of enthusiasm, but the production seems to be trying to do too many things at once. The burlesque is engaging and entertaining, while the theatrical elements don’t quite reach the same standard. With a little more focus, stronger material, and a performance space designed around what the troupe does best, I think there is a much stronger show waiting to emerge.

I would encourage fans of burlesque and the genre to keep an eye on this troupe. Hopefully they will return next year with a production better suited to their considerable strengths. I genuinely look forward to the opportunity to see them stun us all with a longer, dedicated burlesque show that puts their performers front and centre. There is enough talent on display here to make me curious about what they could achieve when given a show that truly plays to their strengths.

***
Reviewed by Mike
Dirty Martini at Le Monde
Until 30 August (not 26, 28 or 29)