Page 337 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

ENTER T AINMENT IN P ARIS  335

skilled orators take to the floor to A historic venue, it is much- vehicle for comedy sketches and
declaim their positions. Audience loved by expatriates and plays inter national beauties. Paradis
partici pation is encouraged. host to some of the finest comic Latin is the most “French” of all
Such events are held in many talent on the circuit at the the city’s cabaret shows. It has
locations, including at Les moment. Some theatres now variety acts with remarkable
Editeurs. Although debates put on plays with illuminated special effects and scenery in
take place in French, English surtitles in English above the an old Left Bank theatre partly
language events also exist: play stage. See theatreinparis.com for designed by Gustave Eiffel.
readings are a regular feature at details of participating venues. The Bobin’O offers a
the Café de Flore (see p141). commercial show that is
inspired by all of Paris’s cabarets.
Street Theatre
Children’s Theatre In summer, jugglers, fire-eaters, The Moulin Rouge (see p230),
once the haunt of Toulouse-
Some Paris theatres, such as mime artists and musicians can Lautrec, is the birthplace of the
the Théâtre du Gymnase, the be seen in tourist areas like the cancan. Today, the Moulin
Théâtre de la Porte St-Martin Pompidou Centre (see pp110–11), Rouge is less extravagant than
and the Théâtre d’Edgar, have St-Germain and Les Halles. the screen version portrayed in
children’s matinées on the famous film, but cabaret
Wednesdays and weekends. fans can still be certain of an
In the city parks, there are Cabaret evening of glamour, glitz and
several tiny puppet theatres The music hall revue is the good times. Outrageously
(marionnettes), which are sure to entertainment form most camp, transvestite parodies of
delight children and adults alike. associated with late 19th- these showgirl reviews can be
The Lido also has an occasional century Paris. It evokes images of seen at Cabaret Michou.
children’s season with shows at Bohemian artists and absinthe-
2pm and 4pm (call for details). induced debauchery. Today, Booking Tickets
most of the women are likely to
be non-French and the audience Tickets can be bought at the box
Open-Air Theatre is made up mainly of foreign office, by telephone or through
During the summer, weather businessmen and tour groups. theatre agencies. Box offices are
permitting, open-air perfor- When it comes to picking a open daily 11am–7pm; some
mances of Shakespeare and cabaret, the rule of thumb is accept credit card bookings by
classic French plays are held in simple: the better-known places telephone or in person. Most
the Shakespeare Garden in the are the best. Lesser-known tickets can also be bought online,
Bois de Boulogne. There are also shows resemble nothing so via either theatre websites or
occasional performances in the much as Grade-B strip shows. Internet ticket agencies like
Tuileries and in Montmartre as All the cabarets listed here (see FNAC, Carrefour or Cultival.
part of Paris’s summer festival; p336) guarantee topless women
check listings magazines for sporting outrageous feather
these events. and sequin-encrusted head- Ticket Prices
pieces, an assortment of Ticket prices generally range
vaudeville acts and, depen ding from €7–€30 for the national
English-Language on your point of view, a specta- theatres and €8–€38 for the inde-
Theatre in Paris
cularly entertaining evening or pen dents. Reduced-price tickets
The Improfessionals (improvised an exercise in high kitsch. and student standbys are
comedy) and Mondays @ 7 are The Lido is the most Las available in some theatres 15
Paris-based companies who Vegas-like of the cabarets and minutes before curtain-up. For
perform in English (details in stars the legendary Bluebell cabaret, expect to pay from
listings magazines). There are Girls. The Folies Bergère is €23–€60; €68–€105 with dinner.
also several English-language renowned for lively entertain- The Kiosque Théâtre (see
poetry societies which host ment. It is the oldest music hall p333) offers half-price tickets
poetry and play readings, the in Paris and probably the most on the day of performance;
best is the Live Poets Society. famous in the world. credit cards are not accepted
Kilometre Zero is an English- The Crazy Horse features and a small commission is
language arts collective that some of the more risqué charged for each ticket. There
performs plays, publishes a performances, and dancers with are booths in three locations.
magazine and hosts open-mike names such as Betty Buttocks
recital evenings. La Java puts on and Nouka Bazooka. It has been Dress
excellent stand-up comedy acts transformed from its Wild West
in English each month, courtesy bar-room into a jewel-box These days, evening clothes are
of Anything Matters. Peter theatre with a champagne only worn to gala events at the
Brook occasionally puts on bucket on each seat. Here, the Opéra National de Paris Garnier,
Shakespeare plays at the lowly striptease of burlesque the Comédie Française or the
Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord. shows has been refined into a premiere of an up-market play.

334-351_EW_Paris.indd 335 03/04/17 2:53 pm