La Clique is simply magnifique!
Image: LA CLIQUE, The Studio, Sydney Opera House, 2024. Credit: Daniel Boud
It’s 20 years since cabaret/circus/burlesque show, La Clique first enthralled audiences with its scintillating audacity, and its current production is a testament to why it has endured. A medley of stunning, hilarious, breath-taking, utterly sexy acts, La Clique was and very much remains a true original.
In this special anniversary edition staged in the intimate Sydney Opera House Studio, the show brings together La Clique alumni and new recruits. MC, David Bates, who introduced La Clique to the world at Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, proudly presides.
Anticipation is stoked from the moment patrons enter the venue. A red, claw foot bath sits conspicuously on the round podium at the centre of the room, and, we soon discover, it is filled with water. Canadian straps artist, Tuedon Ariri then enters and performs “Bath Girl”, a thrilling aerial routine that sees her suspended over and dunked into the bath, emerging soaked and spinning, acting like a human sprinkler.
This explains the plastic shield that is given to the front row just before the show starts, and that shield comes in handy several more times before the night is through.
Each succesive act is a gear change from the last, taking the audience on an emotional ride through comedy, awe, tension, exhilaration, and shocked disbelief. This is not a show for the faint of heart, nor for pearl-clutchers.
Sharing MC duties is Mario, Queen of the Circus (US), a gushing Freddy Mercury fan who looks like a mash-up of Super Mario and leatherman from the Village People. He revs up the crowd with hilarious stand-up, backed up with a truly impressive juggling routine.
Australia’s own Tara Boom, does a hula routine unencumbered by any costuming, and literally topping it off with some buttered pop-corn. She returns later, less chaotic, more focused, stunning the crowd by juggling parasols with her feet.
David Pereira is a fresh-faced aerialist from Spain who performs an exquisite mid-air ballet. He later returns with a bucket of shaving cream, a razor and absolutely no inhibitions.
No matter how many times you’ve seen a sword-swallower and fire-breather, you will be stunned and surprised by US artist, Heather Holliday who clearly has an asbestos mouth and chain-mail oesophagus.
True to the anniversary theme, German balance artist, Mirko Köckenberger, uses wine glasses, Champagne bottles and wooden boards in a balancing act you’d have to be drunk to even consider attempting and stone-cold sober (and extremely talented) to actually achieve.
From the UK, Lj Marles performs an incredible, unique aerial routine on tension straps, and does so in high-heeled, thigh-length boots.
Also from the UK, Ursula Martinez does a burlesque/disappearing hanky act that has to be experienced at least once in your life.
La Clique is spellbinding, oxygenating entertainment. Don’t miss it.
