A MAGIQUE CARPET RIDE
Do you need an escape from suffocating daily life? In Bushwick, across the street from Théâtre XIV, home to the best burlesque shows in the city, artistic director Austin McCormick has opened a smaller cozy party crib to stage Cocktail Magique, with the help of Zane Pihlström, an exceptionally talented costume & scenic designer. If you have seen other shows by Company XIV like Nutcracker Rouge or Queen of Hearts, both startling and memorable, don’t worry, you will not be repeating the same experiences. From the moment you enter the dimly lit venue – a place that in the past must have been a narrow dive bar with dated décor and now looks like a fabulous small Parisian salon of La Belle Époque – you immediately abandon reality, lost in the vibrant crimson and gold accents of the set, bathed in the scents of spilled champagne and fragrances, sitting on comfortable leather couches placed only a few steps from the long narrow stage that was once the wooden bar, surrounded by unusual props you will not find anywhere else.
It’s a place where art and absurdity collide in a gloriously chaotic spectacle. I have already written about the way Company XIV manages to bring the audience back in time but Cocktail Magique goes a bit further because it’s an immersive experience and, as you can guess by the name, alcohol and magic are mixed into a unique cocktail so it’s even easier to let go of reality. The hostess that welcomed my friend and me was the charming and clever Caroline Gayle who performs magic and reads tarot cards. She is one of a kind and her reading was very insightful, even if I am a terrible skeptic. She kindly walked us to our seats, dressed as the other performers in a naughty neo-Baroque costume, always in character, and we were immediately served a Spicy Spell Shot (vodka infused with Serrano, Habanero, lime peel & cilantro and a flower salt rim around the glass) hidden in a small box built into the table in front of us, a spicy delicious welcome.
Master of Ceremonies Sam Urdang is the unapologetic heart of Cocktail Magique: a darkly comic mad magician, charismatic and flamboyant, who was at times seductive and at times revolting like a humanoid creature from a Mad Max movie. Urdang knows how to turn every situation into an extravagant spectacle gently involving or shocking the audience during his mind-blowing magic tricks. A bottomless champagne bottle was used to serve us the French libation in glasses that were lowered from the ceilings in golden air-balloons; a banknote signed by a member of the audience ended up inside an unsuspected shaker; my name magically appeared on the palm of another guest; we were all given cards to mix, shred, and we all ended up with the same piece, just to mention a few fun tricks. With wild eyes, an unsettlingly sinister smile, and very unexpected twists, Urdang tied together the madness, and his sly commentary was as sharp as a chef’s knife.
Nia Simoné, a gorgeous diva, walked on stage with an elegance that captivated everybody, channeling the Folies Bergère and Josephine Baker. She stepped into a giant coupe glass combining sensuality, humor, and a powerful sense of freedom in her movements. She is obviously a classically trained ballerina who knows how to blend artistry with entertainment. Syrena, the graceful, sensual singer, bellydancer, and specialty performer who plays the Caterpillar in Queen of Hearts, came in through the audience singing so well I thought it was part of the recorded score and, at the beginning, I didn’t even turn. Deep and mysterious, she caused more than a gasp when she performed a daring belly-dance in a mesmerizing rhythm while balancing impossible objects on her head and body. Syrena moves like oil; each swirl of her hips, each twist of her shoulders, is smooth and fluid yet precise, in a perfect harmony of strength and softness.
Lydia Wilts, a burlesque clown who can do things with balloons that will make you cringe, chuckle, and shake your head in absolute wonder, brought a weird sense of childish joy and silly awe to the piece. She also effortlessly walked on broken glass, bringing us back to the hazardous side of the show. PhillVonAwesome, a stand-up comedian, writer, and performer with an impressive, flexible physique, did incredible hand-balancing stands, his posture exuding control and confidence. By curling and stretching his legs and feet, he was able to pour himself a drink with astonishing precision using everything but his hands, contorting his body with style and accuracy. Between the sketches, Marley Armstrong, the jazz singer, crooned about love inserting soulful, powerful melodies in this sultry extravaganza.
Cocktail Magique is a deliciously over-the-top celebration of sass and creativity and the talented team that made it possible: Todd Robbins and Matthew Holtzclaw (magic consultants); Kevin Heard and Julian Evans (sound); Brian Tovar (lighting); Sarah Cimino (makeup); and Charlie August Kellogg and Kenneth Griffin (wigs). Together with the rest of the troupe, they reminded me that art is at its most powerful when it refuses to take itself too seriously.
I could hear the clinking of glasses, the laughter and the trepidation of patrons as the constant underlying score. Austin McCormick can craft burlesque at its finest – decadent, bold, and with just the right amount of madness. The world outside might be crumbling but all you have to do is step inside Company XIV’s planet, a secret world of intoxicating illusions, of cocktail conjuration, promising a night of indulgence and whimsy that will tickle every sense.
photos by Alexander Sargent and Curtis Brown
Cocktail Magique
Company XIV
Cocktail Magique Theatre, 17 Wyckoff Ave in Brooklyn
(L Train to Jefferson; M train to Myrtle-Wyckoff)
for tickets, visit Company XIV
