Review: Chat Noir! London
Review: Chat Noir! London
It’s not every Tuesday night you get to go to an infamous Montmartre nightclub and drink absinthe, all without leaving London. But in the hands of The Lost Estate, pros in immersive experiences, anything is possible. The company has recreated the likes of Victorian Dickens for The Great Christmas Feast and 1930s New York for 58th Street (still running over in SE15), and now it’s the turn of Paris in the 1890s with the real-life club Le Chat Noir, and its founder Rodolphe Salis, as its origin story.
The show’s loose plot revolves around Salis, and his attempts to re-open the club to secure his legacy. To that end, he brings in a range of top talents including illusionist Joseph Bautier [Neil Kelso], dancer Cléo de Mérode [Coco Belle], chansonnière Yvette Guilbert [Issy Wroe Wright] and mime artist Paul Legrand [Alexander Luttley].
On arrival, you’re ushered into an anonymous-looking building on a back street in West Kensington where you’ll soon find yourself in a decadent setting with beautiful table lamps all around the room, velvet booths and other fabulous detailing recreating a Bohemian Parisian club.
(Scroll to keep reading)
The evening is divided into three acts of Salis’s brand-new cabaret, Art, Absinthe and Anarchy, with food and drinks served in between. And the food is good – we liked a traditional pate and cheese to start, chicken for mains was nicely cooked and a good lemon tarte was in-keeping with the French theme. Cocktails were stand-out and strong.
Guests are encouraged to dress in the theme of the show but it’s not mandatory. On press night, there was a fair few dressed up and it really adds to the atmosphere to see tables filled with women in their finery and men in waistcoats and hats. Staff too are in on the act to keep the vibe going throughout – while also managing to be charming and professional to keep service ticking along.
Without wanting to give all the highlights away, expect magic tricks, Pierrot, dance, song, and green fairies – on stage and with the absinthe that seems integral to the proceedings. Salis [Joe Morrow] as emcee, encourages everyone to get drunk, create art, so it would be remiss not to try an absinthe – if you can, get one of the drips – an elaborate and beautiful fountain that drips iced water through a sugar lump and into your glass of the green fairy.
I do love an immersive experience and when they are done well, they are phenomenal. I did wonder if this one would work for me as I’m not typically a big fan of cabaret. But here it is done with so much style, humour and energy, you can’t fail to be impressed. There is a wealth of talent here. The music from Le Chat Noir’s excellent house band, Les Enfants Vagabondes also keeps things lively.
As well as the cabaret element, there are some imaginatively-staged dream-like scenes, and the final act of Anarchy is hilarious. Where else can you be encouraged to meow along to Carmen one minute, while the next, well, I’m not going to spoil it for you…
Dress up, get into the spirit… if you need something to bring a smile to your week, this is it…
- Chat Noir! booking until June. Tickets vary from £129.85 for seats around the perimeter to the VIP box-style seats at £224.85. This also includes a 3-course dinner.
- The Lost Estate, West Kensington9 Beaumont Avenue, London W14 9LP
Main image: Nick Ray. Interior: H Leatherby. Absinthe: Joe and Charlotte
