BOURGEOIS AND MAURICE
Anna Gutridge (@Gatsbyspants) catches up with one half of cutting edge cabaret duo, appearing at Leeds City Varieties this evening …
Are you wondering what to do tonight? Tired of the same old gigs and stand up comedy routines with nary a stich of lycra or sprinkle of glitter in sight?
Well, if this is the case then you need to get yourself along to the City Varieties to see part-cabaret, part-theatre, part-catwalk freak show, Bourgeois & Maurice
Culture Vultures caught up with gorgeous George Bourgeois to ask what the fabulous duo had planned for their visit to the city.
‘A party’ came the simple response.
‘Each show on the 17 dates we have done so far has been different, always well received, but if the audience are up for a good night out we just go with it and it becomes a really fun night out. It’s the best part of what we do when people really get stuck into enjoying themselves’
It is genuinely difficult to not get swept along with their original songs, which blend unashamedly catchy pop hooks with bitingly satirical lyrics, taking on important issues, from reptilian conspiracy theories to the eroticization of the finance sector.
‘Being turned on by tax returns and mocking things like the Levenson enquiry are part of our act because we grew out of a performance scene which was apolitical in 2007, but things have changed, public policy and government are ripe for comedy, and now we have become a more political act – we need spitting image back on TV’ explains George.
However Bourgeois and Maurice are far from being a Mark Thomas in stilettos. The politics are just one side of this innovative, provocative and irresistible act:
‘We don’t do covers, we do cabaret for the 21st century. We bridge the gap between musical comedy and classic cabaret with a bit of club culture, we are high camp high fashion freaky characters who have developed their own take on life’ says George.
And therein lies another story; who are these sexy glittery monsters? The Internet is rife with speculation about their back-story, as George explained.
It transpired that they were brother and sister and had this sinister tale. The thing with Bourgeois and Maurice is that they are compulsive liars so even now, we can’t be sure if they are related. We think they are but there are photographs on the Internet where Maurice is an old lady, cradling an infant Bourgeois so there are many twists.
However during this interview George admits that they are brother and sister who accidentally electrocuted their parents during a freak accident, and left to their own devices, raised themselves via the media – hence the distinct lack of moral backbone in the pair – but again, can we be sure he is telling the truth this time?
George goes on to explain why CV readers should make trip out this Saturday.
“We never know what will happen in each show, we haven’t been on TV so people might not know what to expect, but that’s the best part, people want something that they recognise, but seeing something new is such a good experience people respond to us so well. Stuff on TV is much more conservative and we project the values of difference.”
Basically It is something that you don’t see every day, it’s a fun night out with a surreal side to the imagination and every show is different. Are you up for it? Because they sure as hell are!!
Venue: City Varieties Music Hall LEEDS
Date: Saturday 1st June 2013
Box Office: 0113 243 0808
Online: www.cityvarieties.co.uk
Venue: Alhambra Theatre BRADFORD
Date: Saturday 29th June 2013
Box Office: 01274 432 000
Online: www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/alhambra