By Jojo Dass
Dinner shows are the rage in Dubai these days, and one such lively venue is the cabaret-inspired Papillon, with its otherwise nondescript facade at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina across from Media City.
The place looks pretty quiet outside. But wait till you get in!
Papillon bursts with provocative performances – as the curtains open – by three ladies in lingerie and fishnet stockings, for instance, doing what would easily pass for a contortionist act on a couch. Or a sultry couple in pyjamas, two males doing the tango, a steaming office scene and… let’s keep it at that lest the spoiler alert sets off.
There’s a storyline for each performance, raunchy if you will, and tickling your fancy.
But there’s a deeper meaning to it, explains Layla Kardan, award-winning singer-songwriter, who launched Papillon late last year. “Whilst it’s entertaining and risqué, the underlying messages are that of female liberation, exploration, passion and the pressures of the rat race,” she said.
There’s a certain epicurean adventure to all this, too.
Your eyes fixed on the dancing bodies, silhouettes and shadows draped in red light, your mind wondering what’s going to happen next – all the while indulging in a creamy truffle mushroom risotto, or lobster linguine, and grass-fed Australian beef tenderloin with tarragon mustard and padron peppers.
The crispy calamari with chorizo and romesco, for starters, also hit the spot.
The much-applauded live show, named Madame Butterfly, was curated by Kardan for Papillon’s second season.
“It’s great for the local ecosystem of the arts (to have) so many dinner and show offerings in the city,” she said, “but very few offer a theatrical experience.”
“Most are just an afterthought in a regular restaurant without the same level of production value we offer — from the stage and lights, to the caliber of artists and quality of food and drinks offered. We definitely like to pride ourselves on being a unique dinner and show experience in the city. “
Kardan said Papillon dancers were from all over the world and have “an extremely high caliber, all with their own unique skill.”
Dinner package starts at AED395 per person for a menu created by renowned Chef Vinod Mani.
Curtains open at 8pm for a three-hour live entertainment with unlimited pour that sets the mood.
Papillon, which seats up to 100 guests, is packed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The crowd, a mix of big boys in suits unwinding after a long day, ladies on a night out and couples on a date. It also has three VIP rooms, with balcony views on the second floor, which can fit up to 12 guests each, approximately.
Party does not end when the curtains close as resident DJ Niara takes the spins, playing the best of the 80’s and 90’s until the early hours.
It’s mystifying to note that there’s a bit of a papillon in us — the butterfly that flew away to escape the drudgery of life and seek gratifying refuge, no matter how briefly, in the spectacle of la dolce vita.
