Moulin Rouge: Review
The Moulin Rouge is no doubt one of the world’s most iconic showbiz institutions.
The world’s most famous cabaret show.
The birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance.
One of Paris’ most famous landmarks.
Its neon red lights and giant windmill has long symbolized the sensual side of Paris, which was first popularized during Europe’s Belle Epoque period.
Today, the Moulin Rouge still remains to be a popular tourist destination. In fact, it’s almost like a trip to Paris isn’t quite complete without taking a picture under their giant red windmill.
Luckily for us – thanks to our travel partner, Tinggly – not only did we get our obligatory shot in front of this landmark, we also got to spend a fabulous evening inside the Moulin Rouge! If you haven’t heard about Tinggly, here’s our feature on why we love this company!
Read on below for our honest review of the Moulin Rouge and tips to enjoying this uniquely Parisian Tinggly experience!
Moulin Rouge Review: Entering the venue
We got tickets for the 11:00 pm show and according to the instructions on our tickets, it is recommended to arrive 15 minutes before the show starts.
We arrived exactly at 10:45 pm and found a long but steadily moving line of patrons entering the venue, including some big tour groups. An usher then directed us to a bare bones gymnasium-type holding room. We stood and waited there for about 20 more minutes. We then slowly inched our way back into the theater.
Finally a few minutes before 11:30 pm, we were escorted to our seats. After about 5 more minutes, the show finally started.
We thought that the show was adults only. But surprisingly, we saw a family with a child who was approximately four years old. Officially, the website states only kids above 6 are allowed, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Personally though, we wouldn’t recommend this show to anyone under 14-16.
Seating Area
The Moulin Rouge show is popular year-round, so expect the venue to be pretty packed. We went there on a weekend during low season, and even then it was almost filled to the brim.
It looks like the standard non-VIP seating area is a table for four (4) people. Yet, they manage to seat at least six (6) people in there. If your party is less than 6 people, you will likely be seated with other guests. This is something to keep in mind especially if you’re a larger person and may need different requirements.
The seating is has a regular section and a slightly tiered, amphitheater style section. This ensures that most attendees can get a good view, especially those in the rear tables, no matter how far they are from the stage. Also, within 5 minutes, we quickly received our big bottle of champagne, which was included in our Tinggly experience.
Ambience
The ambience inside the venue is sophisticated and sexy, echoing the sensual character of the cabaret itself. The décor also clearly takes inspiration and stays true to its glamorous belle époque roots.
The rich red theme from the exterior of the building is also reflected inside the theater. The place is covered in the lavish, luxurious hues of red and gold. Everything is then accented with the glow of the red lamps and black shadows, giving it that romantic and intimate ambience.
© Moulin Rouge website
Feerie Show
The current show, called Feerie, has been featured since 1999 and is made up of flamboyant “revues” or performances divided into several scenes. The different scenes take you on a fantastical journey approximately made of these sections:
- The Moulin Rouge, today and yesterday – a brief artistic rendition of the Moulin Rouge’s history
- Pirates Voyage – A pirate’s fantastical voyage as he encounters exotic lands and cultures
- At the Circus – Clowns and acrobatic performances
- The Moulin Rouge, from 1900 to… – featuring the world-famous Can-can dance and a tribute to Parisian women over the years
About 80+ artists recruited from all over the world perform nightly at the Moulin Rouge, dressed in flamboyant costumes of feathers, rhinestones, and more.
In between the scenes, there are also performances from international acts. The night of our show, they had Roller Pilar (a roller-skating duo), Mario Berousek (a comedic juggler) and an acrobat with a cyr wheel also known as a giant hula hoop.
Oh, and in case it isn’t clear yet, this is a burlesque show…so do expect some female nudity. To be specific, the female artists perform topless in some scenes, but all are tastefully done. Often, they were in gorgeous sparkly or sheer costumes so you can hardly tell there’s nudity.
Take note that photos are not allowed once the show starts. However, the audience can take photos before and after the performance.
Our Review: Moulin Rouge
Now for the show itself, our tip is to manage your expectations. Remember that you are there to take part in a uniquely Parisian experience.
We went in expecting exactly that. And because of this, we felt the show delivered and gave us a fantastic date night at the theater.
As for some mixed reviews on the internet describing the show as being campy and reminiscent of an 80’s variety show, we’ll say there’s some truth to that. The costumes are fun and elaborate but some aspects may feel dated to some people.
Don’t get us wrong, it was still a lot of fun and there were plenty of interesting technical and artistic aspects to it. The Moulin Rouge remains to be an iconic institution primarily because it was *the first* world-famous burlesque show. It still felt like a true feast for the senses and a worthwhile night out.
Overall Verdict
If you’re a tourist in Paris, and want a taste of the nightlife from the place that started it all, we highly recommend it!
Yes, it’s touristy, campy, and the seating can be a bit cramped. But hey, if you’re here for a historical, cultural, and uniquely iconic world-class experience – we think it’s something you’ll really enjoy.
Some people may find the price steep for a normal show. However, once you start comparing it the cost of to theater shows on Broadway or the West End, the Moulin Rouge Tinggly Experience is actually quite reasonable and totally worth it!
More Tips
Want more detailed tips? Then check out our separate article with all the essential tips for a night at the Moulin Rouge!
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DISCLAIMER: Tinggly invited us to try this Moulin Rouge Tinggly Experience as Tinggly Ambassadors. However, all opinions are our own and based on our honest personal experience. You can read more here about how Tinggly works.
