Review by Lauren Donikian
Juggling, balancing acts, and popcorn are expected at the circus but at La Clique everything has a twist. Celebrating 20 years, David Bates creator of La Clique has brought his award-winning show to Sydney, and it is a roaringly good time!
After it’s debut at Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, La Clique has become a name known around the world for its highly skilled performers that excel in acrobatics, circus acts and humour. Eight acts perform over the course of this 70-minute show, and it is non-stop entertainment.
The Studio in the Opera House is set up so the audience can sit in the round, and there are two levels of seating. The room is lit with red lighting, and there is fairy lights strung all around. There are some table and chairs set up with a small stage that runs along the back wall of the ground floor. All you can hear is the excited chatter of the crowd. In the middle of the Studio is a raised circular stage with steps either side and a bath sitting on top of it with aerial straps hanging from above. The only hint of what is to come. A hush falls across the room, a smokey haze starts to fill it and then over the speakers big band music plays to get everyone in the mood, it is jaunty, and everyone’s head starts bopping.
The first performance of the night was Tuedon Ariri, an exquisite aerialist whose movement is so fluid it’s beautiful to watch. Paying homage to one of the acts seen in the first La Clique show, she is lit with blue and purple lighting, and no one can take their eyes off her. Spoiler alert – if you want to stay clean/ dry do not sit in the front or second row. Next up is Mario Queen of The Circus whose clear loves are the circus and Queen (the band, not the person). Mario is our MC for the night and sets the tone early on that fun is to be had in this place, as well as respect is to be shown for the artists and their skill level, which is higher than the sails of the Opera House itself. His cheeky sense of humour is a welcome bonus to his juggling skills that need to be seen to be believed. Heather Holliday wows the audience with two flirty performances which showcase her unsuspecting skills with swords – note the plural swords and fire breathing. The lighting changes to amber and gold which only make the flames and Holliday shine brighter. David Pereira performs two totally different acts; one which involves his aerial skills and the other his… flexibility? Both are impressive for different reasons, but I really liked that he got to showcase different sides of his personality and what a true artist he really is. Mirko Köckenberger is delightful as he performs his balancing act and Ursula Martinez shocks everyone with her return to the stage and her red hankie. Lj Marles pumps everyone up with the use of Lady Gaga’s ‘Applause’ and skills with tension straps. An apparatus that I have never seen before but was honestly blown away by. The strength and beauty that is on display had me wanting more. My favourite performances of the night were performed by Tara Boom who made sure that everyone was craving popcorn during and well after the show. She was funny, daring and unpredictably delicate in her second offering which included umbrellas. The spotlight was on her and the shadows that were created by the umbrellas and lighting really brought the wow factor to this act. She is a creative genius with a wild streak, and I was hooked.
There is no denying that this is an incredibly talented group of artists that have spent large amounts of time perfecting their skills. Like all travelling troupes they are very supportive of each other and help set up and break down after each act. There is an overwhelming feeling that this Clique is tighter than no other and accepts these artists for the wild imaginations that they have, pushing each other to go further and harder than they ever have before. We are used to hearing the term clique as a negative one, but it doesn’t ring true for this show. It welcomes these artists and the many before them to explore who they are and express it in a way that feels right to them. Without hesitation or judgement. At La Clique everyone is welcome. It is top tier entertainment and a night I will never forget. Congratulations on 20 years – here’s hoping for 20 more!
Image Supplied
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