Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. It's a French phrase meaning "the more things change, the more they stay the same," and Sophia Bernardin is proud of it. Mme. Bernardin is the daughter of Alain Bernardin, he who brought the world Crazy Horse. That's the Paris original, folks, not to be confused with the Crazy Horse Too. Inheriting her father's business, along with two brothers, Bernardin is the creator of La Femme, which turns 3 in a few weeks; old by Vegas standards though not as hoary as Crazy Horse, which just turned 53.
"The show here in Las Vegas is exactly the same show as the one in Paris," Bernardin says, during a recent rehearsal. "Not today, because today we have not put on the new show yet in Las Vegas, but as of the 26th, it will be exactly the same."
You see, even though La Femme can boast a pedigree longer than half a century, some of the choses have changé. There are several new numbers, says Bernardin, and the music has been given a French face-lift, and the costumes—such as they are—have been redesigned by up-and-comer Gaspard Yurkievich.
In total, eight numbers out of 13 have been changed, while retaining classics like "God Save Our Bareskin." A forestage also has been added, allowing for the addition of 12 "very small numbers" in between the full acts, creating a nonstop pagentry of some of the most beautiful, nonsurgically altered women in Vegas. And the entire show has been given a retro-update, with more color and a '70s feel.
"We do not accept any work on the body," says Bernardin. "The only thing we accept is on the face, to have their nose done if it really is a handicap for being on stage." This restriction, and the dancers' shorter height of 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 6 inches because of the trademark narrow stage, help make Crazy Horse and La Femme unique.
"If you've seen the old show," says Bernardin, "you have to come and see the new show, because it's very different. But it has the same feel to it."
Plus ça change ...