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Show: Mulan Rouge
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: The Vaults. Leake Street, London SE1 7NN
Credits: Written and directed by ShayShay. Produced by The Vaults
Type: Sardines
Author: Jonika Kinchin
Performance Date: 28/04/2022
Mulan Rouge
Jonika Kinchin | 02 May 2022 14:08pm
Don’t walk, sashay to the Mulan Rouge!
No, it’s not a typo – Mulan Rouge is a drag-tastic, gender-bending cabaret evening which combines the iconic stories of Mulan and the Moulin Rouge, burlesque, and a three-course-meal.
Young Mulan is in a pickle worrying about marriage when The Huns invade and the well-known tale of undercover identity ensues. The young soldier heads to the Moulin Rouge, and encounters a world of burlesque, an outrageous Madame, some truly outstanding lip-syncing, and self-discovery. Mulan meets the glamorous go-go girl Ginger, and discovers more about themselves than they ever thought possible.
Beautifully executed in The Vaults just underneath London Waterloo station, the winding maze of arches is transformed with an array of red velvet and Chinese lanterns, along with the classic decor of the Moulin Rouge, lit up windmill included. There’s an excellent surprise just after the first act – keep your eyes peeled and remember that not everything is as it seems.
The set was innovative and fit perfectly within the darkness of The Vaults. Even the noise of the trains above doesn’t distract from the performers, who took every opportunity by the horns to engage with the audience or take the joke to the next level. Audience participation can be one of the trickiest parts when it comes to immersive theatre, and the cast do an excellent job of keeping everyone engaged and on the edge of our seats, waiting for the next outrageous pun, biting insult or dad joke.
The dinner element of the night was very well executed by the hospitable staff – it ran smoothly, and the food was great. It offers a great opportunity to chat with fellow guests, enjoy the bespoke cocktail menu and take in your surroundings.
Despite being a night of ruckus and comedy, the show transmits some really important messages about gender identity, racism, and general acceptance of people who are different to you, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Ridiculous, over the top, heart-warming and with some stellar performances from the cast, my face is still hurting from laughing. Leave your worries, your cares and most importantly your gender behind, and don’t just walk, sashay to the Mulan Rouge!
- : admin
- : 28/04/2022