Culch.ie

Review: La Clique at the ABSOLUT FRINGE festival

What it’s called: La Clique
Where it is: The Spiegeltent, St George’s Dock, Dublin 1
When it is: Tonight to Sunday September 20 at 7pm (Monday to Saturday) and 9.30pm (Friday and Saturday). No show Sunday 13.
How long it is: 105 minutes
How much it is: €34.50 (Sunday to Thursday) or €36.50 (Friday and Saturday). For tonight (Wednesday 09/09) use code laclique09 when booking online, over phone or in box office for 20% off your ticket price.

What they say:

La Clique’s mélange of cabaret, neo-burlesque and contemporary variety has taken the world by storm. Returning veterans from this international menagerie of the bizarre are Norway’s outrageously bendy Captain Frodo, the Queen-obsessed Mario, Queen of the Circus, musclebound supermen The English Gents, and, of course, spectacularly sexy aerialist David O’Mer.

Among the Dublin virgins are Marawa, a virtuoso of the Hula Hoop and a demon on skates. Le Gateau Chocolat is an Opera-singing diva with a penchant for being wrapped in body-hugging lycra and a passion for laughter and The Skating Aratas bring their breath-taking high speed roller skating acrobatics to the round stage.

What I say:

Go see it, especially if you haven’t been before. Seriously, it was an evening of jaw-dropping amazement at the skill of some of these circus and cabaret performers who have obviously devoted their life to making their craft extremely watchable and compelling. It was brilliant. Simply and totally brilliant.

While there’s echoes of the Street Performance World Championships (The English Gents and Mario, Queen of the Circus were both stars last night and at last year’s SPWC), the truly remarkable part of La Clique lies in its intimate setting of the Spiegeltent – unfortunately it’s the last year at the Fringe Festival of same.

Though some in the audience had seen elements of the show before, the reaction and applause of those who hadn’t, and the true skill and showmanship that was on display negated any “same old same old feeling”.

It really is a spectacle. A treat for the eyes and an assault on the senses. Simply, as I said, brilliant.

From the opening strains of Nessun Dorma sung by the incredibly voiced La Gateau Chocolat, through the act of The English Gents where there were genuine gasps of astonishment from those unfamiliar with their work – the Rule Britannia sketch always gets a huge reaction – to the juggling skills of Mario, Queen of the Circus – “I love this moment. Everyone looking at me. I wish I were you” to the double jointed frenetic madness of the incredible Captain Frodo, I watched both acts and audience in an equal mix of bemusement and enjoyment. The audience, when they weren’t laughing, were either gasping in amazement or applauding.

Two girls sitting directly in front of us partly made the show for me – one had obviously never seen anything like this and spent most of the show with her hand either at her mouth or over her eyes. “I can’t look” and “Oh Jesus” were the two most common phrases. Beside me (and almost beside herself) Steph was in stitches, Niamh loved it and I was just delighted to be there to witness it.

There are so many impressive acts that it’s time and money well spent. David O’Mer will be a popular choice for those who like their men good looking, muscular and wet. Marawa, the hula hoop expert shows there’s no waste in doing something that you love and the Skating Aratas? Breathtaking. You’re left thinking “How the hell?” If you go, I hope Chocolat does his amazing version of … actually I’ve probably said too much already.

Photos all from ABSOLUT FRINGE website

At the end we were invited to “think of something strange, something obscure you wanted to do for a living but were afraid of what others might say. Well, we hope this show has left you with the thought YOU CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT”. It’s certainly what I thought.

Go see it. It’s brilliant. Simple as that.