Dianne

I will be in Paris for the first time in July and would like to take my teenage daughter and her friend to one of these places to see a spectacular French stage show where we can see the can can. However, she says that she does not want to see naked, or half naked, women on the stage! I would love some feed back on favorite shows and which one would be appropriate for her.

Donna

Some folks we ran into in the lounge of our hotel had been to all three and told us they enjoyed Lido the best. But, all feature half naked women.

lorrie

My husband and I went to the Lido a few years ago. We were disappointed with it as we found it too American and very cheesy. My brother and his wife actually returned just yesterday from Paris where they took in the same show. They thought exactly as we did. There were dome topless dancers running around as well, but that didn't bother my husband much.

Karen

Our group went to the Lido and enjoyed the show very much and were not at all offended by a small amount of nudity, however, if the girls don't want to see it, I wouldn't waste the money.

Dianne

Thank you for your feedback so far. If the nudity is tasteful and a small amount, then my daughter and her friend may not mind as long as the whole show is entertaining. I just wasn't sure which show, if any, would be the best for them to see. It is very interesting how some like the Lido and others don't. I certainly don't want to see something American and cheesy when I am in Paris! I hope I get some more responses about these shows.

Art

It's been many years since I was in Paris, but the shows there even if they displayed semi nude women were the most tasteful that I've ever seen. Worth the experiance. <BR>

Christina

I am of the opinion that topless/nearly nude women dancing on stage to entertain tourists can never be tasteful, by definition. If you've been to Las Vegas, you know what these are and they are for tourists, appealing to males obviously. However, if you realize that's what it is (and I honestly don't know the protocol or tastefulness of unaccompanied women going to these) and that's fine with you, I think you should go to the Moulin Rouge if the cancan is your main interest. It's supposed to really be the best show for that from what I've heard and more "traditional" than the Lido as the Lido is like Star Wars, Vegas, etc., lots of lasers, special effects stuff. Unfortunately, the Moulin Rouge isn't in as nice a neighborhood, but I wouldn't worry about it exactly, it's just an unpleasant area to me to be around, but I think the Moulin Rouge is fairly close to public transportation. These are really expensive, too, if you didn't know that (like $100 each I think). Now, I'm a classical dance/music aficionado and could steer you to more wholesome cancan entertainment as it's in a couple classical ballets, La Gaite Parisienne, with music by Offenbach (taken from La Vie Parisienne) and in La Boutique Fantastique, music by Rossini, but neither are playing in Paris this year. Offenbach's light operetta La Vie Parisienne with the cancan is done in Paris sometimes at the Comedie Francaise and other venues, you can check if you wish. However, I'd suggest the Folies Bergere as they specifically have cancan shows and historically there is more there as it's a music hall where a lot of famous people have peformed (Josephine Baker, Chevalier, etc.) I think this is not a Vegasy T&A show like the others (although certainly toplessness was around at their revues in the early part of the century and I presume you've seen a little about J. Baker's entertainment), I know they have reductions for students and lunch shows and are cheaper than the "cabarets" like the Lido, etc. It's Offenbach's music, also. Most tourists go to the wellknown skin "cabaret" shows so you don't hear much about the Folies Bergere, I've never seen anyone comment on what it consists of on here or any other travel BB. But I'd check it out, I'd rather go there just for historic reasons to see the theater, etc., it's in the 9th arrondisement, but not sure how authentic the inside is or if it's renovated. I think that might be a better choice for you. However, here is a good article on the various cabaret places in an online Parisian newsletter I read: www.paris-anglo.com/html/chronic/chronic4.html <BR> <BR>(If that doesn't work go to www.paris-anglo.com and then the "Chronicles" section and you'll see the titles of articles, one on cabarets in 5/99)

Dianne

Thank you Christina for the info on the 3 Paris Cabarets. I read the chronical you suggested and enjoyed the website. I have seen the shows in Las Vegas, and when I'm in Paris, I do want to see something more French than that. I was originally interested in the Moulin Rouge because I wanted to see the cancan so much and I admire Toulouse-Lautrec's art which depicts life at and around the Moulin Rouge. However, of course, it has changed since then. We will probably end up at the Folles-Bergere since it seems a bit tamer yet is still very entertaining and has some history behind it, but who knows. I'm also going to look into "La Vie Parisienne" which you mentioned. Thanks again.