C A B A R E T S A U V A G E
Paris - Maghreb - Paris within two hours
In the North of Paris, not even a stone’s throw away from the Canal Saint-Denis, a nostalgic und surreal appearing spiegeltent is installed – this is the Cabaret Sauvage. Between January and November a regularly used music hall, the small company around founder Méziane Azaïche produces the «Folles Nuits Berbères», the crazy Berber nights, under their own steam for seven years. The Berbers are proud tribes in the former French colonies of North Africa, whose dependants – like Azaïche himself – have strike new roots especially here in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
The construction looks noble; the show has found its space anywhere between professionalism and improvisation. This is what makes it likeable. Sometimes it seems to be alternatively and far away from any commerce. At least until the barkeeper claims 20 Euro for a simple Couscous portion. The cabaret fan recognizes that a mindset different from the French rules the Sauvage. No glitter, no sequins, no glamour – and a show that starts just dead on time. It is a festival of a culture which can be experienced right here in Paris and which presents itself inviting and self-confident at gorgeous peppermint tea.
Significantly involved in the success of this production are the eight live-musicians whose exotic sounds know how to inspire longing for Southern regions. Above all the soft voice and the squiggly singing of Samira Brahmia arouses a lot of beloved holiday memories. Due to Tata Milouda – with headscarf paying tribute to the cliché – the stage becomes again and again a dancefloor for spectactors which tries to imitate Tata’s flowing movements in vain. In the spotlight itself there are much curiosities to look up. The performances of the both stoic calm donkeys Babouche and Etoile belong doubtlessly to it. After each little trick not only their trainer Stéphane Laisné looks full of expectation into the audience, no, the animals do so, too. But not enough of the extraordinary! Sarah Guem combinates traditional belly dance and breakdance elements. Completely out of the line are some Far Eastern import disciplines like a tigerfork or yo-yo jugglings and the Chinese pole. But the «Folles Nuits Berbères» are even always good for a nice surprise.
Résumé: The ensemble proofs how much fun multiculti can give. And the audience shows how recreatively a Maghreb short trip is.
► «Folles Nuits Berbères» in the season 2009/10 at the Cabaret Sauvage. With Samira Brahmia, Akli D, Johann Berby, Hafid Djemaï, Malik Kerrouche, Adhil Mirghani, William Robin, Alexis Sebileau. Idea: Méziane Azaïche; staging: Arnaud Joyet. ► Further reviews at the
review archives
Paris - Maghreb - Paris within two hours
In the North of Paris, not even a stone’s throw away from the Canal Saint-Denis, a nostalgic und surreal appearing spiegeltent is installed – this is the Cabaret Sauvage. Between January and November a regularly used music hall, the small company around founder Méziane Azaïche produces the «Folles Nuits Berbères», the crazy Berber nights, under their own steam for seven years. The Berbers are proud tribes in the former French colonies of North Africa, whose dependants – like Azaïche himself – have strike new roots especially here in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
The construction looks noble; the show has found its space anywhere between professionalism and improvisation. This is what makes it likeable. Sometimes it seems to be alternatively and far away from any commerce. At least until the barkeeper claims 20 Euro for a simple Couscous portion. The cabaret fan recognizes that a mindset different from the French rules the Sauvage. No glitter, no sequins, no glamour – and a show that starts just dead on time. It is a festival of a culture which can be experienced right here in Paris and which presents itself inviting and self-confident at gorgeous peppermint tea.
Significantly involved in the success of this production are the eight live-musicians whose exotic sounds know how to inspire longing for Southern regions. Above all the soft voice and the squiggly singing of Samira Brahmia arouses a lot of beloved holiday memories. Due to Tata Milouda – with headscarf paying tribute to the cliché – the stage becomes again and again a dancefloor for spectactors which tries to imitate Tata’s flowing movements in vain. In the spotlight itself there are much curiosities to look up. The performances of the both stoic calm donkeys Babouche and Etoile belong doubtlessly to it. After each little trick not only their trainer Stéphane Laisné looks full of expectation into the audience, no, the animals do so, too. But not enough of the extraordinary! Sarah Guem combinates traditional belly dance and breakdance elements. Completely out of the line are some Far Eastern import disciplines like a tigerfork or yo-yo jugglings and the Chinese pole. But the «Folles Nuits Berbères» are even always good for a nice surprise.
Résumé: The ensemble proofs how much fun multiculti can give. And the audience shows how recreatively a Maghreb short trip is.
► «Folles Nuits Berbères» in the season 2009/10 at the Cabaret Sauvage. With Samira Brahmia, Akli D, Johann Berby, Hafid Djemaï, Malik Kerrouche, Adhil Mirghani, William Robin, Alexis Sebileau. Idea: Méziane Azaïche; staging: Arnaud Joyet. ► Further reviews at the
review archives
5 
breathtaking | 4 very nice | 3 entertaining | 2 disappointing | 1 bad
breathtaking | 4 very nice | 3 entertaining | 2 disappointing | 1 bad
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