You know the story. You tell your wife you’re going out with the boys, it’s going to be a late night, but you’re not entirely honest about your whereabouts. Because you and the boys may end up at a gentleman’s club, and unfortunately there’s a stigma that’s attached to it, real or perceived.
Not in my home, I might add. When I got the invitation to Celebrity Skin, on at Mavericks in Cape Town on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until November 30, I excitedly told my wife that we’d be able to get a little break from the baby.
I had no clear expectations for the night, but it is a revue bar after all, so I wasn’t expecting something family-friendly. How wrong I was.
The show can best be described as a kind of Cirque du Soleil lite — the cast of dancers, flexible and fit, dazzle with extraordinary moves, awe-inspiring acrobatics, and gravity-defying gymnastics on a range of equipment.
The plot, as far as I can gather, follows a cleaner, played expertly by actor, comedian and magician Charles Tertiens (a good mate of mine, by the way), who blends a mix of physical theatre with his trademark comedic magic, is sucked into a fantasy world.
“The scintillating story is of the backstage ‘Janitor’ (Charles Tertiens) whose quest for love transports him on a journey through cabaret, dance and theatre,” reads the press release. “As the seasons unfold, he begins to craft a doll from the most sensual, breathtaking, mysterious, and fiery of the personalities who grace his stage. The atmosphere transitions from icy and glamorous, to thunderous and electric, playful and mischievous, climaxing in a hot and seductive finale.”
“I have been privileged to collaborate with an unlikely combination of hot property,” says Tertiens. “Both physically, intellectually and artistically. I am very excited by this confluence. Here two worlds meet and renew organisation of ideas. This can only but produce something new and unmissable.”
The costumes and set design, using the existing infrastructure of Mavericks with extra props and set pieces, projected light shows, and captivating music all make for an unforgettable experience.
My wife has tried her hand at pole dancing, and was thus fully appreciative of some of the mind-boggling moves the dancers pulled off.
Forget what you think you know about Mavericks Revue Bar — this is not some tacky strip show; Celebrity Skin is high art.
What surprised me most, I must say, was the food. I’ve often heard men say to me that they go to clubs like these for the food, of course never believing them. But the menu on offer was exquisite. We were treated to an Asian platter consisting of duck spring rolls and sushi, and also ordered a plate of crumbed chicken sliders. I am starting to believe what those other men have said. The food was scrumptious.
The production is directed and choreographed by Grant van Ster and Shaun Oelf and conceptualised by Craig Leo, and provides a fantastic date night in Cape Town, with ticket prices ranging from R300 to R600.
* Lance Witten was invited to the show and hosted by the Celebrity Skin team.