The Birds and the Bees - Candyass Cabaret and “April Showers”

The first warm day of spring. Birds, bees, and fresh air. I’ve been enjoying the shift in weather and energy, rediscovering the joy of sitting on my balcony in a tank top, of having my toes out in the sun, and of looking for reasons to leave the apartment. With the warmer weather, I feel the desire to explore Montreal’s cabaret nightlife. First one on the list, Candyass Cabaret at Cléo’s!

Velma Candyass, the creator of the beloved Candyass Cabaret, agreed to chat with me about her involvement in Montreal’s always anticipated evening event. I’d seen Velma perform at various shows, one in which she was sporting an incredible fruit hat, yet this was our first official introduction. Well known in the cabaret community as the creator of a Café Cléopatre monthly staple, I felt incredibly lucky to exchange words.

Candyass Cabaret sprouted from the conflux of concerned people, artists, and activists, all working to save smaller performance venues (Café Cléopatre in particular) from the city’s attempt to wash away the history of sex work in Montreal. Velma's work grew from within the historic redlight district and evolved into something necessary: a home to regulars who watch and who perform, a safe haven for trial, error, and intimacy. Through the act of resistance was born a show that threw us back to what vaudeville was all about: entertainment. It soon became a regular show at Cléo’s, a menagerie of trials and talent, of experimentation and glitter. Still to date, it is a well-loved cabaret classic to be expected on the third Friday of each month.

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We spoke a lot about space, about what it was like to perform on the stage at Café Cléopatre. She made it very clear from the start- the venue doesn’t have a bad seat in the house; every seat gives you great sight lines and that little something more. Having been there often as an audience member, the unrestrained closeness to those performing is part of the magic.

A smaller stage has its challenges, but face-to-face contact is an essential human experience. She pointed out that people forget what it’s like to see the sweat of the brow, the glitter shaking off of costumes and falling onto your lap. Having a space that enables this proximity makes this venue one of a kind. It creates a bond of understanding and makes the audience part of the performance, too.

Velma sees her work now as the creation of a space that allows for upcoming artists to perfect their craft, test out new material, or try out a different performance style altogether, with the support and patience of the audience. Candyass was described as a laboratory, a place to be experimental with your art. This is where you learn and develop your chops. As a fairly new cabaret performer, I was curious about what challenges bubbled up most within that experimentation. The answer came quickly and with a laugh... Props. The more props you have, the more room there is for something to go wrong.

I was reminded of one of my first cabarets in a similar venue, one which I’ll summarize as a series of unfortunate events involving a mic wire, a missing clown quartet, a bad migraine, and a giant prop book. It was a big (literal) flop… cue the sad trombone! Thankfully, that audience was forgiving too.

Though some things might not work out the way you want them to, that shouldn’t stop you from trying. That’s what these spaces are for: to embrace the unpredictability, to make mistakes and to have fun doing it. As Velma Candyass pointed out, Cabaret is not commercial, it’s cooperative and forgiving. That is something Candyass Cabaret embodies completely.

So, what’s next? With the arrival of spring I feel giddy, impatient, and itching for something to do. Luckily, with our hearts and spirits coming out of the cold winter, there are warmer things to look forward to -- such as Candyass Cabaret’s next show, April Showers! On the 21st of April with the theme of Spring, Velma promises prettiness, flowers, joy, and glitter… lots and lots of it. This edition of Candyass will be hosted by none other than Sasha Van Bon Bon, and is guaranteed to be a hit. Be there early when the doors open at 8, see the show at 9, and talk about the weather during smoke breaks. Make sure to follow Candyass Cabaret on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram for upcoming shows and ticket sales.

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Tickets for Candyass Cabaret’s “April Showers” are AVAILABLE NOW!

(Psst… Use the code “Velma” for 10% off!)

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McSweeney’s List (19, April 2023)

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