La Clique is an amazing show. It mixes performances from cabaret, musical and variety artists. It is well paced and well polished. From opera to acrobatics it is one of the most entertaining performances I have ever seen in London.  

It is on at the London Hippodrome, and has had its run recently extended until 14^th June. I remember, during my teenage years, the Hippodrome as a tacky Leicester Square hang out with cheesy music, and clientele to match. It has been transformed, or perhaps restored, to what it should always have been and the fantastic venue that it should be. It was designed originally as a Victorian Circus Theatre to house sea-lion and acrobatic performances. Since then it has been the stage for many performances from Houdini to Ivor Novello.

So a restoration it is, and the atmosphere is decadent and inviting in true cabaret style. The daily line up varies but you are bound not to be disappointed as the range is deliciously quirky.

From the “Gateau Chocolat”, the gaudy, lycra-clad popera singer whose voice is sumptuous and whose opening song tantalises the audience and leaves everyone wondering what on earth could follow that. The answer is: “The English Gents” , who mix acrobatic skill, akin to elements of Cirque de Soleil, with comic delivery and a glimpse of  some fine boxer-shorts and polished torsos to boot.

Two other acts, Ursula Martinez and Carl Einar Hacker, bring together comedy and magic with saucy aplomb (not all of which is something you would take your mother too). A plethora of performers add to the entertainment smorgasbord, with everything from elegant acrobatics to mind boggling hula hooping and all of this combined with inviting bars tucked at the back of the stalls. Perfect. However, if I happened to be sitting in the front row when the “Skating Willers” spin on stage,  I would take refuge in one of the bars as their routine not only defies the laws of gravity and common sense.

It is a far cry from the cheesy nights I remember in the nineties and having not known what to expect I had a brilliant evening.  La Clique is a line up of breathtaking variety yet traditional variety acts well and truly updated for the noughties.

www.lacliquelondon.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N93EZ–A–M[/youtube]

Trailer for La Clique