Review: BLACK CAT: BOHEMIA, Underbelly Festival

A black cat in England is a harbinger of good luck; but in Bohemia, it's likely considered to bring its opposite. Well, Bohemia trumped England on my visit to the Southbank, as Leon Fagbemi was injured on his tumbling introduction and the show was almost as hobbled as he was. But, as we know, it does go on, and the rest of the troupe leapt and spun and flew for all they were worth and received a big hand at the conclusion from a sympathetic house.

It does make the reviewer's job a little tricky. One can only imagine the frenzy backstage, as some scenes were cut, others re-worked, all with the ever-present danger of further injury attendant on doing dangerous things in fraught circumstances. Forgivable then, that some of the work lacked the precision we have become used to in both Cirque du Soleil inspired shows and competitive gymnastics, where many of the performers can trace their roots.

Miss Frisky is our hostess for the evening's debauches, combining a little of Dame Edna's wicked wit (and dress sense) with a singing voice that didn't suit Nirvana, but came into its own with Kate Bush's paean to the men and women who apply the greasepaint night after night, "Wow". She turned full Patti Smith diva for Bruce Springsteen's "Because The Night" - the anthem of those who earn and enjoy their pleasure - to send us into the London darkness.

Amongst the circus performers, Nicolas Jelmoni and LJ Marles have a lot of fun, clowning and joining in Miss Frisky's bantz with the audience - plenty of charisma there. Missy Fatale's fire flinging excited anyone with a touch of pyromania in their souls - and that's all of us really.

The question for shows like this is always about the "Wow' element - appropriately enough. This show has the optics right - the soukish feel to the tented space, Malcolm Rippeth's subdued lighting, the driving band, the garish costumes - but do we get enough jaw-dropping moments, enough "wows"? Hard to judge in the specific circumstances, but, we're all a lot closer to the action than the vast majority of the punters at a big Vegas show or in the Albert Hall, London home of Cirque du Soleil. And that undeniable authenticity counts for plenty in the age of 20 seconds clips on youtube.

Black Cat: Bohemia continues at the Underbelly Festival until 30 September.

Photo Alistair Veryard

To post a comment, you must register and login.