Anyone who's had an eye on our Twitter posts will know I saw LA CLIQUE at the weekend. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of seeing the show it's basically a modern variety show. People sing, they dance and they do what can only be described as 'other stuff' but I'll get to that.
First things first, the venue. The Hippodrome is a wonderful place for this kind of show, the touch of sleaze that is leftover from the building's nightclub days fits perfectly with LA CLIQUE. Rather than hushed whispers and velvet seats, the Hippodrome is all dry ice, popcorn vendors and lots and lots of drinking. In short, it's a Friday night theatre and (forgive me theatre purists) I adored it.
Armed with a double G&T, a bag of popcorn and a sense of pant-wetting anticipation I've not felt since the midnight Harry Potter queues, I headed into the auditorium for my first surprise. The stage for LA CLIQUE is the tiniest in-the-round I've ever seen. It was no more than perhaps eight feet across, two feet high and sat there in a cloud of dry ice as if miniaturised for comedy value. Slightly perplexed but even more excited I positioned myself for the best possible view and settled down.
The show began with gusto. LA CLIQUE's resident diva, Meow Meow, treated the audience to spot of what the show's own website accurately describes as "kamikaze cabaret". Her stage presence was palpable and with each of her three performances it seemed to build, by the end of the show she was a whirlwind of bawdy humour and sequins. Her occasional use/abuse of audience members was slightly unnerving and I must admit I hid behind my programme more than once as the swept past me. My own cowardice aside, it must be said, Meow Meow is the future of cabaret.
I could continue this review with a blow by blow account of the show, letting you in on every jaw-dropping detail of this magnificent, no, perfect piece of theatre. However, if I did that I would ruin LA CLIQUE for you and I just can't bring myself to do that so I've decided to be coy and only give you my top five moments from the show.
5) Bret Pfister's aerial hoop entrance.
Despite a woman somewhere behind me adamantly telling her companion "I'm certain that bloke in the hoop is from Fall Out Boy" Mr Pfister's swooping entrance was stunning. Not only because he moved with a grace that would made even the National Ballet's finest look twice but he did it to a soundtrack of 80s synthpop!
4) Marawa's stray hula hoop hits my girlfriend in the face.
I know, it's a cruel thing to put in my top five and I'm a bad bad man. However, it serves to highlight the hilarious temper tantrum humour that goes into Marawa's act. An act which basically involves pouting, stamping and lots and lots of hula hoops. Little harmless 'accidents' like this seem to happen semi-regularly and they only add to the show's wonderful sense of glittering anarchy.
3) Mario, Queen of the Circus' unicycle act.
Unicycles are cool, that's a scientific fact. Queen (the band) are also cool, that's not a scientific fact, more of a universal truth. When you combine the two with a man with a painted moustache you get this particular act and it's superb. Funny, unique and just the right amount of crazy, Mario was a star of LA CLIQUE.
2) Captain Frodo's "Follow your dreams" speech.
Not only did Captain Frodo inspire me to carry around a pocket of confetti for impromptu celebrations, but he also gave a rather touching speech. Nothing quite puts life into perspective like hearing a man who has just dislocated his own shoulder in order to squeeze through a tennis racquet tell you that if he can follow his dream, so can you.
1) Amy G and the kazoo.
I have no idea how to really describe this so I'm abusing YouTube. If you're easily offended, not a fan of kazoo music, or are at work (depends on how strict your employer is), I'd advise you save this video for home viewing. It's not rude per se, but well.....you'll see.
I know I've waxed lyrical about this show but honestly, it's remarkable. It blends all that I love about burlesque and circuses and the beautiful seedy underbelly of theatre into one stunning show. LA CLIQUE proves without a doubt that the West End has plenty of room left for the silly, the sexy and the outrageous. Once you see it you'll regret having never learned to play the Ukulele while rollerskating, I swear to you.
In short, if Tim Burton and Dita Von Teese had a child, she grew up, ran away with the circus and then ate too much cheese before bed, LA CLIQUE would be what she'd dream. 10/10, five stars, SUPERB!
Jonathan Dudley
Show-And-Stay
18 May 2009
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