Glamour. Mystique. Dazzling.
When you hear the words Moulin Rouge, what else could possibly come to mind? For over a hundred years, the famous French cabaret has fascinated audiences from all over the world. The highly-trained dancers, the exquisite costumes, and the effervescent champagne guarantee the show of a lifetime.
In full transparency, it is a rather expensive affair. If you don’t mind a late night, the 11 pm show is the least pricey, but will still cost you 88 euros. Despite the price tag, the experience was one-of-a-kind.
The enormous windmill sets the building apart from the surrounding cityscape. The red sign casts a glow upon the pavement, and boldly commands the attention of those passing by. We arrived around 10 pm for the 11 pm show, only to see floods of people, all dressed for the occasion. The scent of expensive perfume wafted through the crowd, as the women reapplied their lipstick, and excited murmurs sounded through the grand hallway. The plush red carpet lead the stream of people to a grand doorway, with everyone anxiously anticipating what was inside.
As we approached, the suited men asked for our tickets, and promptly escorted us to our seats. From the first peak inside, I was stunned by the extravagance of it all. Red and white striped curtains lined the ceiling, dotted with twinkling bulbs. The white tablecloths were surrounded by red velvet chairs, all perfectly lined in rows. Each was equipped with its own champagne bucket and antique-looking lamp. The dim red lighting shone upon the many gold accents, casting the room into a fiery haze. We followed the man’s lead, and by some stroke of luck, he took us all the way to the very first row.
Minutes later, the show sprang into life, with a sequin-covered cast rushing the stage.
Each song was more exciting than the last, and the costumes accumulated more colors, feathers, and sparkles than I ever thought possible. As the show continued, it felt as though we were a part of it. We exchanged smiles and winks with the dancers, as the champagne encouraged us to cheer louder and louder.
Each act was a unique work of art, and the audience is taken on a journey with pirates, circus performers, and the Paris of the past. I had no idea what the human body was capable of until watching this show. We stared in awe as performers swam with snakes, partner roller-skated on the tiniest platform, and managed a balancing act I only thought possible in a cartoon.
The whole night was bejeweled, and I kept silently wishing to myself it would never end. This glitz and glamour is something only Paris can provide, and something all of its visitors should experience.
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