The Crest Theatre transformed into a circus ring for the first weekend of the French Film Festival. The night began with a high-production fashion show, Cirque de la Mode, and the curtain came down after the showing of “Lola Montés,” which was the inspiration for the whole night.

Audience members were greeted by a ringmistress wearing a futuristic can-can dancers’ outfit, whip in hand, strutting across the stage and warning the audience, “This show is not for the faint of heart!” And the show proved to be beyond vibrant.

DJ Roger was spinning French electro tunes from the likes of Yelle and the Prototypes as the models took to the stage.

There were can-can outfits, fishnet stockings, platform heels and, of course, tulle and ruffle skirts. The designers did more modern pieces with accents of eccentric circus themes, like one-piece jumpsuits.

The whole show could not have been done without the work of the directors, Joni Jacobs of Opaline’s Closet and Tina Romo of Canvas Salon. This is their second show together for the festival, and they plan on continuing the tradition.

Jacobs described the genesis of the concept as a collaborative process between her and the director of the festival, Cécile Mouette Downs.

“We figure out a movie to do with fashion. This year she wanted to do a classical piece, so I bought the movie and watched it several times and started thinking,” she said.

Jacobs’ initial brainstorming drew from Cirque du Soleil. “I started to put the theme of fashion and the vintage circus together,” Jacobs said. Her creative process culminated in what she called a “thesis statement.”

“I kind of took it from there and tried to figure out how to incorporate the different styles of hair and makeup and make it relevant to circus of 1955, but also make it beautiful for today,” Romo added.

The cooperation among Canvas, Magic and Allure salons resulted in big, elaborate hairstyles with color extensions and a massive amount of teasing.

Jacobs was able to recruit local designers to contribute to the show through her boutique, Opaline’s Closet. “They get the theme, but I like to work with giving everybody their artistic and creative self to unleash,” Jacobs emphasized. The designers in the show were allowed artistic license and great leeway in developing an aesthetic for the show theme.

The concept would not have come to fruition without the help of the models. Not all of them looked like conventional models, but both Jacobs and Romo highlighted the importance of this. “It should be a variety of face shapes and colors, people, styles-- everything. That’s what makes it beautiful,” Romo said.

The show went smoothly, and the audience applauded every design on display. Afterward, the crowd had the pleasure of viewing the film that inspired it all, “Lola Montés,” directed by Max Ophüs.

In 19th-century Europe, the entertainment world saw Lola Montes as its scandal-mongering dancer. The film, based on the true life of Elisa Rosanna Gilbert, portrays her as a rambunctious young woman who narrates her various adventures, misadventures and romances.

She recounts tales of traveling the world, dancing in the Spanish style of Bolero for the theater and falling in love with the King of Bavaria. It is as a focal piece of the circus that she is able to act out scenes of her past for the audience’s enjoyment.

In many of the circus scenes, it is easy to see the inspiration for some of the pieces in the fashion show. The feathery hair pieces, beading and big skirts were translated to the Crest Theatre’s stage.

Lola Montés' life was a spectacle and the final act was a death defying feat.

The Crest Theatre is located at 1013 K St. The French Film Festival will continue through June 28. For more information visit http://www.sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org/.

photo credit: Denis Rouleau