Cabaret Troupe

PORTLAND AFTER DARK Night is a C a b a r e t Add a soupçon of naughty to your evening with Portland’s premier cabaret troupe. BY OLIVIA GUNN nterested in something a little different? Dare to feel a little uneasy? OK, Portland. Let’s do this: “Willkom- I men! Bienvenue! Welcome! Im cabaret. Au cabaret. To cabaret!” The Forest City’s irrepressible newVoulez-Vous Bur- lesque troupe is doing for Maine what Le Chat Noir did for Par- is in 1882 and Christopher Isherwood’s fictional Kit Kat Club did for 1930s Berlin. Geno’s Rock Club isn’t my typical Friday haunt, but after a week of nine-to- five routines, I need to add a little more spark to my night. Like Sally Bowles, I’m craving the “strange and extraordinary.” The evening’s entertainment, presented by Voulez-Vous Burlesque, is playfully en- “It’s clear to me I must meet the titled The I F*cking Love DAMON LOUCKS woman behind the pasties.” Food Show. With a name SUMMERGUIDE 2 0 1 7 7 5 PORTLAND AFTER DARK like that, it’s sure to add, well…something. On the stage, we watch a man overcome We order our drinks and boldly sit at the by his love of the Happy Meal burger. table closest to the stage. It’s dark save for a Once the performer is stripped down to lone inflatable cupcake placed center stage. his skivvies, he’s joined by a life-sized Soon the emcee emerges, dressed in a chef’s version of his obsession: a hamburger The coat and hat and armed with the sassy that playfully peels away two all-beef pat- male contingent crudeness that brings to mind Joel Grey’s ties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pick- performance as Master of Ceremonies in les, onions, and a sesame seed bun to the of the audience seems the 1972 film version ofCabaret . He rous- strains of Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger es the crowd into a state of anticipation and in Paradise.” The show continues in suit- particularly titillation worthy of a decadent night at the ably surreal and playful fashion, with acts responsive Moulin Rouge. ranging from a raucous tap routine to a rendition of the Chordettes’ classic 1950s to the artist’s use of OH, WHAT A SHOW! pop hit “Lollipop.” My fiance’s favorite The first act begins with a strange and is a two-person dance choreographed to . amusing interpretation of Ronald Mc- Warrant’s 1990 hair-metal classic, “Cher- whipped cream " Donald’s old nemesis, the Hamburglar. ry Pie.” In fact, the male contingent of the DAMON LOUCKS 7 6 P ORTLAND MONTHLY MAGAZINE MassageEnvy.com $ Corner Brook Plaza 343 Gorham Road 55 South Portland, Maine MASSAGE or FACIAL Intro 60-min. session* 207-772-7770 M–F 8a-10p | S 8a-8p | Su 9a-7p DISCLAIMER: *Offer good for first-time guests only. 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No matter what your dae Morning, grew up in Ly- radical for a size-14 woman to be comfort- level of prudishness, the good-natured at- Cman, Maine. At 21, she attend- able showing her body?’” mosphere of the show makes it hard not ed her first drag show. “Look, my broth- Many of Voulez-Vous’ performanc- to find yourself laughing and cheering er says ‘hoss’ instead of house and drives es poke fun at popular culture and cur- along while sparkles and breasts go flying a lifted truck, if that tells you anything,” rent events–as any good cabaret act should. across the stage. she says of her upbringing. After per- The troupe’s Inauguration Day show at Ge- During the second act of the eve- forming in shows doing “faux drag” (a fe- no’s a few months ago took audience mem- ning, we’re introduced to the star of the male performance that adopts the style of bers by surprise. Mosher recalls a few men show, producer/director Sundae Morn- male drag queens), Mosher eventually be- being a bit taken aback at just how much ing. Her routine involves tempting three gan performing at the now-closed Studio fun the troupe had with Mr. President. “At unsuspecting volunteers from the audi- 55, directing a weekly drag performance. the end of the day, you’re going to offend ence to eat ice-cream sundaes with their Since Studio 55’s closure in October 2016, somebody,” she says with a cheeky wink. hands tied behind their backs. Ms. Morn- Voulez-Vous Burlesque, Mosher’s 13-mem- “There’s a time and place for everything.” ing cackles as three men take the stage. ber troupe, still puts on two cabaret perfor- This summer you can catch several With little else than a glittering mara- mances per month. Each show, written and cabaret performances by Voulez-Vous in schino cherry topping her head in the choreographed by Mosher herself, takes Portland, including I F*cking Love Food way of clothing and a mouth full of Bet- about three weeks to produce, including Part Two at Portland House of Music and te Midler-esque lines, she captures our the design and creation of costumes. Who Events on June 15 and When You Wish attention even as three grown men wolf knew a bucket of rhinestones costs $15? Upon a Bra, a Disney-themed perfor- down ice-cream hands-free in front of us. But it’s all worth it in the end, says Mosher, mance in August. If you’re still not sure My cheeks hurt from laughing by the time who notes that her confidence on stage has you can handle a night out with Voulez- she leaves the stage. It’s clear to me I must sometimes surprised audience members. Vous, ask yourself, “What good is sitting meet the woman behind the pasties. “I’ve had women tell me that they wish alone in your room?” n 4:25 PM SEBAGO LAKE Brewed for times like these. SUMMERGUIDE 2 0 1 7 7 9 SBC.20556.SimmerDownLake.PrintAd.PortlandMag.6.2017.FR.indd 1 3/30/17 10:24 AM.

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