Show Time
International cabaret show La Clique pitches its Spiegeltent in Leicester Square
“A totally madcap topless juggling act involves strapping a popcorn machine to her head”
La Clique is back. The cabaret variety show that started out in Edinburgh in 2004 and went on to tour the
world has brought its famed Spiegeltent to the middle of Leicester Square. Memorable acts over the years have included Ursula Martinez’s infamous Hanky Panky magic striptease (where is the hankerchief?), Miss Behave with her impossible sword swallowing and the record-breaking Norwegian contortionist Captain Frodo. Now there’s a new lineup for this West End Christmas spectacular and as usual, it’s an international mix of talent comprising just six performers.
David Pereira is astounding with acrobatics on silks, and then comes into his own with a clever act involving shaving foam and a razor. LJ Marles is another acrobat with and his comedy rapper act is breathtaking. Cabaret Decadance is a duo of Canadian puppeteers who bring dancing figures to life
with enormous skill, even when the puppet is reduced just to a pair of lips. One of the original La Clique acts, Ukrainain hula hooper Yulia Pykhtina is graceful with her beautiful hoop dance.
For me, the star of the show is Tara Boom. Wandering onto stage as a slightly goofy popcorn seller (spoiler alert) she launches into a totally madcap topless juggling act that involves strapping a popcorn machine to her head, plugging it in, filling it up and letting it spit popcorn in all directions as she covers herself in butter and salt. It’s the kind of original, highly skilled and slightly bawdy act that La Clique is known for and leaves us laughing in utter disbelief for hours. The multi-talented Boom returns with an entirely different foot juggling umbrella act that’s seamlessly elegant and rhythmically beautiful,
showing her diverse range of skills and her essential burlesque character. We’ll hope to see more of Tara Boom.
Unreserved stalls seats £49.50
Booking until 6 January,
Spiegeltent Leicester Square
lacliquetheshow.com
