Review: Déjà-Vu Revue at Triangle d’Or Cabaret

(此文為英文版部落格，欲看中文版開箱評價文，請點以下連結/ This post is in English; for the Chinese version review, please click on the link below）：

https://fashionecstasy.com/ni-juedui-bu-neng-cuoguo-zai-duolunduo-xian-qi-hongdong-de-bali-shi-tuoyi-gewu-xiu-deja-vu-revue-pinglun-%ef%bc%9atriangle-dor-cabaret-de-deja-vu-revue/

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The weather just got hotter, and so did Toronto!

On Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, Fashion Ecstasy (FE) attended the performance of Déjà-Vu Revue, the Triangle d’Or Cabaret Club’s newest production. As Canada’s only Parisian-style cabaret club, Triangle d’Or Cabaret promises to whisk guests away to the Paris of daydreams and movie screens. A Paris where elegance meets mystique. A Paris where inhibitions slowly hit the floor, layer by layer.

Inspired by the shows at Le Crazy Horse Paris Cabaret, Déjà-Vu Revue is a 90-minute spectacle that celebrates the human body in all forms, and this mission is reflected in the cast. This team of beautiful people includes 12 dancers and 3 professional singers who give meaning to the phrase “strength in diversity.” 19 themed acts, mesmerizing light shows, and dazzling costumes complete the Déjà-Vu Revue experience.

Following an amazing experience at their dress rehearsal turned private show on May 9th, 2024, FE was thrilled to receive another invitation to their show.

Below are highlights from the show, and I include any other aspects of the evening that made my second trip to Triangle d’Or oh-so merveilleuse.

Before the Show

As soon as I entered The Don on Danforth, I was pleasantly surprised by the security team, who greeted me with a smile and said, “Welcome back!” That kind of flattery (and impressive photographic memory) set my evening on a positive pace.

After breezing through Check-in and free(!) Coat Check, I waited with the other guests in the bar area. While waiting, I reconnected with familiar faces and befriended new ones. Triangle d’Or Cabaret tends to draw the most fascinating people to their shows, and they always bring their fashion A-game. One of these stylish guests was esteemed choreographer/performer Oleg Kasynets. His red-and-white Breton shirt and black beret combo were perfectly on theme. He looked like he was ready to be whisked away to Paris! Thank you for posing for FE, Oleg. Tu avais l’air très élégant! Scroll to the bottom to see the awesome picture.

Getting Seated

Once the doors opened, guests were ushered into the theatre in a controlled and orderly manner. I was impressed with how the staff handled the onslaught of people heading into the theatre. Crowd control is a frequently overlooked aspect that affects the overall guest experience, especially in theatres. Nobody wants to be rushed or crushed in a crowd! This also made me wonder if The Don on Danforth has a PA system in the building. A loud Front of House Call would further improve their well-functioning crowd control.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and single attendees will be asked to sit elsewhere to accommodate the larger parties. This happened to me, but it was hardly an inconvenience. The room’s spaciousness and seating arrangement ensured great views for everyone, regardless of seat location. At Triangle d’Or, there’s no such thing as a bad seat in the house!

The interior looked like a dreamy cabaret club, complete with table seating and leather lounge chairs. The lighting was a mix of hazy aqua, pink, and purple. There was ample legroom between the rows and tables. The resulting ambiance was intimate, dreamy, and comfortable yet palpable with anticipation.

Triangle d’Or’s Golden Rule

When attending a show at Triangle d’Or Cabaret, there is one rule that must be observed at all times:

No photography or recording of the dancers is allowed during the show.

In the final moments before showtime, the voiceover (in a sexy French accent) encouraged audiences to “Touch with your eyes” and put away their cameras during the dance numbers. Of course, this was for the protection of the dancers. As mentioned in my previous review, the announcement was a great reminder that we can all have a great time when we respect people’s boundaries.

Showtime!

During the evening, the Founder/Creative Director of Triangle d’Or, Meydge Anguiley, said the audience could take videos and pictures of the cabaret singers. This was great as the world will finally recognize these gifted singers: Bianca Boom Boom, Cara De Melo, and Saphire Demitro. Bianca Boom Boom was everything you’d hope for in a vampy, campy, burlesque performer/emcee. They brought showstopping vocals, tons of charisma, and a smile that could light up a room. During their numbers, they moved across the room to charm and interact with the guests as they sang. Their rendition of “Wilkommen” from Cabaret was the perfect upbeat tune to kickstart the evening.

This was the first time I saw Cara De Melo live, and oh my goodness, she was dazzling! She looked like money when she sang “Big Spender” from Sweet Charity. If vocal gymnastics were an Olympic sport, Cara De Melo would win the gold medal for her rendition of “La Foule” by Edith Piaf. The way she nailed every vibrato alone made her voice a force to be reckoned with! I gasped when the light hit her glittering white and gold ensemble while Cara De Melo sang this song. Watching her sparkle as she twirled around the room was like watching stars fall from the night sky.

I was beyond thrilled to see Saphire Demitro perform again. She remains one of the best performers I’ve ever seen, and her musical numbers filled my heart with deep joy. While performing “La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf, I experienced a profound and dreamy moment. Everything and everyone in the room faded into the darkness. Then, my eyes were solely on her as she serenaded part of the song to me like it was just us in the room. My heart wanted to burst out of my chest, join her onstage, and sing with her. Is this what falling in love feels like? When she flexed her operatic singing skills in the last few bars of the song, everyone got chills. Hearing Saphire Demitro sing is always an immense blessing.

The Dance Numbers

At a Déjà-Vu Revue, you can always expect burlesque dance numbers that are tastefully done. While the dancers are partially nude, you will never see them fully naked. The choreography is more sensual and mysterious, sophisticated and subtle. Each act represents Triangle d’Or’s dedication to the multi-faceted and ever-changing performance art form of burlesque. The chosen music is best described as ‘one foot in 1970s Paris, and the other in 21st-century crowd favourites.’ The performers’ confidence and talent are awe-inspiring. They always look like they’re having the time of their life onstage. Since they were having fun, I thoroughly enjoyed watching them perform.

One number that clung to my memory featured Grace J’Adore for her “Sugar Daddy Blues” act. Her strut into the spotlight was so hot she left behind a trail of flames down the aisle. Her entrance, plus the sweet moment when she handed her red feather boa to me at the end of her number, will forever live in my mind. Another number was the visually hypnotizing “A Good Shoe Undresses” act. This number featured Sienna Baudelaire, Ember Simone, Lana Lush, and Nina Notte, who moved together, in perfect unison, to the beat, all while lying down on their backs with their legs in the air. The red lighting on their skin and dark blue lighting behind them resulted in a striking light show reminiscent of Beyoncé’s “Partition” music video.

This was also the first time I saw Lad Nu, one of the male dancers, hit the stage. His number was my favourite number of the night. Set to Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky White Boy,” Lad Nu’s storytelling abilities through dance captivated me. I fully bought the storyline of him being the sexed-out rockstar surrounded by groupies. The speed at which he landed into the splits made me jumpscare. His number was high-energy and raunchy, and it blew me away. It gave me 1970s rock star meets Chippendales, and he left everything on that stage. I loved watching him dance!

Final Thoughts

Following the second viewing of the Déjà-Vu Revue, the show is still a 10/10. It was a delightful evening, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you to the amazing team at Triangle d’Or for extending the invitation to Fashion Ecstasy. The show runs until August 3rd, and tickets tend to sell out fast. For more information on Triangle D’Or and to get tickets to their upcoming shows, visit: www.triangledorcabaret.com/

theatre

Saphire Demitro

Cara De Melo performing La Foule

bar area / 吧台區