Review: Celebrity Skin at Mavericks is a fun show in a venue which one doesn’t associate with “theatre”

I was intrigued to attend Celebrity Skin at Mavericks Revue Bar. I have not been to Mavericks and I had not seen it anywhere on my theatre radar.  I was pleasantly surprised.  At many levels.  I had no idea that choreographed dance is very much part of Mavericks nightly offerings.  Yes, it’s a “Gentleman’s Club”. Yes it’s an adults only venue and yes there is some nudity, but it is much more than you might think.   The seating is comfortable, the sound system first rate, and the food is pretty good (we were served a lovely platter of sushi).  Quite clearly, it is a niche entertainment spot that has over the years earned a place in Cape Town’s vibrant night-life.

The show is on its main stage (by the main bar), at 8pm until November 30, 2024 (Wednesday to Fridays) and stars actor-magician Charles Tertiens, along with dancers from Mavericks: Mavericks Elite Dance Corps. Choreography is by dance theatre mavens, Grant van Ster and Sean Oelf and concept by theatre maven Craig Leo.

The dance is impressive, with energetic acrobatic cirque which includes aerial silk and Lyra/hoops and Pole.  The agility and stamina of the dancers is incredible as one watches them navigating the steps to get up the ramp like catwalk stage, above the main bar. It’s hard work. If you enjoyed the dance sequences at any of the shows at the Zingara Tent of Dreams many years ago, you will probably enjoy this. It’s risqué, but also fantasy fun. 

Tertiens plays an “Ordinary Guy”. He is the janitor with a trolley of cleaning materials who dreams of love. As the seasons change, he interacts with the dancers. From Maverick’s release: “As the seasons unfold, he begins to craft a doll from the most sensual, breathtaking, mysterious, and fiery of the personalities who grace his stage. The atmosphere transitions from icy and glamorous, to thunderous and electric, playful and mischievous, climaxing in a hot and seductive finale”.

Vibrant audio visuals (by the brilliant Kirsty Cumming) are overlaid with an acoustic soundtrack. It’s loud and busy. This is site specific performance. It is a vast space and the performers work well in using the different levels, activating the main floor and stage at the club.

I enjoyed the dance tremendously and the visual content, costumes (Roderick Jaipal) and props. A great deal of effort has gone into the staging of this show with special effects such as glitter and fire. Balloons and screens are used. The plot line is basic, with the dance core in this non-verbal show. I feel that some sequences could be shortened and perhaps additional vignettes could be added, but the audience loved it and the beauty in this show is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

In addition to its main stage, the venue has four smaller stages. So with five stages, dance is a nightly offering via its Fantasy Shows. The dance shows are on every hour on the hour from 7pm and every half hour from Wednesday to Saturday.  They are about ten minutes. I was told that in season, there are up to 120 dancers per night. Each dancer has a choreographed piece.

Celebrity Skin has been theatrically conceptualised. The idea being to widen the audience, going beyond its regular clientele. The place starts really pumping, I am told at 11pm. We didn’t stay that late.  Celebrity Skin starts at 8pm. The club opens at 7pm. Tickets to Celebrity Skin are priced above the R100 entrance fee and cost R300 to R600 but once you are in, you are in and can stay until 4am when the club closes. Mavericks is also a popular late night eating destination, for one simple reason -the kitchen closes at 3.30am, around the time most hotels starting prepping for breakfast.  I am told that many people go there for the late night food – with burgers and sushi being hugely popular.

I was fascinated by the scale of the club. I was told that there are often 400-500 people in at a time. With five stages and private areas (such as the Library), it is massive with people grouping according to what they are after. It was interesting to see tables of women only and mixed gender couples. Apparently women regard it as a safe space and love to hold bachelorettes at the club.  All up, it was a very different theatre evening at Mavericks, watching Celebrity Skin. It is a fun show in a venue which one doesn’t associate with “theatre”.

✳ Outside Mavericks Revue Bar in Cape Town. Pic by Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn.