Live Shots: ‘Bohémienne’ glows with ribald glamour of Parisian cabaret

Bohémienne—”a riotous, champagne-soaked Belle Époque cabaret” in “which artists, lovers, and misfits gather under the Paris skies for a raucous night where absinthe flows, love burns hot, and hearts break”—has returned to the Palace Theater through August 1.

The premise? You’ve entered a rollicking Moulin Rouge after-party in Montmartre, full of delightful characters and entertainment. Finding this “speakeasy” is part of the fun. Walk down the stairs at 644 Broadway and leave San Francisco behind for belle époque Paris.

Le Mime, Boswick the Clown, flits around the audience before the show officially starts, photo bombing and poking fun. Master of Revels Kat Robichaud and La Chanteuse Amie Shapiro, cast as siblings with a good natured rivalry, shepherd the audience through the evening’s entertainment: Le Titan’s (Toni Cannon) feats of physical and acrobatic strength; Pierrot’s (Sam Wilder), aerial work; sultry songs by another La Chanteuse (Charlie Whitaker). All interspersed with comedy striptease, a cancan spoof, and Boswick’s love story.

The individual acts are compelling, and the ensemble nature of the show evoke an artist’s collective. Three-piece band Odile Lavault on accordion, Cameron Washington on trumpet, and Diallo House on stand-up bass weave Edith Piaf standards, Cole Porter’s “I Love Paris,” and even a little Björk into the night’s fun.

Expect to become involved. The Master of Revels spent as much time mingling amongst the audience as on stage, even soliciting a love story from an audience member. La Femme, Banbury Cross, takes her green fairy striptease into the audience as well.

Details enrich the experience. Diminutive table lamps with damask lampshades change color with the acts: sultry red, warm cream, titillating green (Daniel Weiermann is the lighting designer); sumptuous costumes by Maggie Whitaker dazzle. The Palace Theater itself is a main character with mood lighting, bistro tables, and cozy booths adding to the intimacy of the night.

Director Lucy Jane Atkinson and production designer Laura Drake Chambers have crafted an evening of frivolity and mischief. Many in the audience dressed for the fun, with berets, scarves, and other French-adjacent sartorial accents. Diana Rosa crafted the gorgeous cocktails—arrive early and, with La Femme Chic or perhaps La Fougueuse in hand, take in the splendor of The Palace Theater and visit Paris of a bygone era. —Patty Riek