Burlesque dancer Nico Bella calls her idea “the $20 bill night.” In a quest to create a reasonably priced night out on the town, Bella started Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque Presents, a monthly show at the Bagdad Theater that provides exceptional entertainment followed by an equally exceptional flick. This month it’s that good old classic, Cabaret.
“You pay $20, have a couple drinks, eat some food,” said Bella. “It’s complete, it’s a full night out.”
With a film showing, circus performers, a dance chorus and Bella herself facilitating the event, all for only $5, this night at the Bagdad promises to be the economical night out on the town Bella envisioned.
The circus performers come in from local group Wanderlust Circus, touting vintage sophistication with a 21st-century flare. The group includes performers Rhy Thomas, who wheels across tightropes juggling bowling pins, Kyoko Uchida, who drapes herself in chains hanging from the ceiling to perform acrobatics and Mr. Creature, who totters around the room on stilts.
Wanderlust has an old-time circus feel, complete with bow ties, top hats and raunchy burlesque outfits. William Batty, the ringmaster, will be hosting the event and a number of Wanderlust performers will find ways to juggle and contort themselves for the audience’s entertainment.
Bella dances and sings in the Wanderlust Circus, where she goes by her stage name, Sadie LaGuerre. Fleur de Lethal hosts other events around town, like burlesque shows and classic films. Bella tries to keep events fun and accessible to all.
The film Fleur de Lethal presents this Saturday will be Cabaret, which ties in nicely with Bella’s love of burlesque. Shot in 1972 and set in 1930s Berlin, the musical film follows an American singer (played by Liza Minelli) who tries to bring entertainment cheer to Germans as the Nazi regime rises in the background. With sinister undertones, Cabaret manages to confront Nazi Germany, bisexuality and pregnancy in a whimsical manner and throws lots of showy music in the mix. It’s easy to see where this film gets its cult appeal.
Like many of Fleur de Lethal’s events, this might be a little rowdy. The show is a sing-along and encourages the audience to join in. A month ago, when Fleur de Lethal put on a sing-along showing of , almost 300 people showed up to drink beer and let their croaky voices shine. Theater nerds and musical geeks be warned: This is your heaven.
“I stick to the big musicals that are kind of silly and kind of goofy but still mean something to people,” Bella said.
In addition to a rapid-fire succession of circus acts before the show, a dance chorus called the Good Time Girls will also be performing. The show is meant to give a low-cost taste of what the Good Time Girls and the Wanderlust Circus do on a regular basis.
The film will also show as an all-ages matinee on Sunday without the pre-show performances.