Following years of successful cabaret “house shows” at the Sydney Festival’s Famous Spiegeltent, it should come of little surprise that this year’s production LIMBO is set to follow in the footsteps of critical and box office smashes like Cantina and Smoke & Mirrors. Well, we certainly can’t predict a sell out season, but we can tell you one thing: this is THE must see show of the festival and we would definitely get our hands on tickets before word spreads and they all fly out the door. If they haven’t already that is…
The way to describe LIMBO, as it was for Smoke and Mirrors before it, is as a circus for adults. Risqué, surprising and awe-inspiring. These are “do not try this at home” sort of moments, with a live score undercutting the event’s most bizarre qualities, while highlighting its most magnificent. It’s a show that displays the most precise human talents at an exaggerated level and asks the question: how far do you think they can take it? The answer might surprise you.
Having seen Circus Oz a little over a week ago, a family friendly circus that delights, LIMBO might be compared as the drunk uncle who can do the splits on someones head while lighting himself on fire and showing off his six pack. And a bunch of muscles you didn’t know existed. Should I start going to the gym? All these naked torsos make me reconsider my life choices. I got a pretty good view, too, what with them literally flying and falling over the crowd (even stealing a pair of an unsuspecting woman’s glasses in the process).
LIMBO doesn’t let up for a moment. Each member of the ensemble has their signature trick and/or treat featured in a segment, which is complemented through transitions by dancing, collaborations between members and live music by the band, performing a mix of standard instruments (brass, percussion and harmonica focused) and regular house hold items like a glass bowl, amplified and distorted – and often accompanied by the oh-so-talented stage ensemble. This really is a group who can do just about everything and they have transformed the Spiegeltent into a world that allows them to show it all off. It may just about be the best staging I’ve ever seen. And a special mention to the superb lighting.
I feel like I’m cheating you if I reveal too much, but let it be known there is fire, aggressive hand balancing, sword swallowing, magic, more fire, contortions (that will make your stomach contort), pole dancing (more like pole falling… but I digress), tap dancing, acrobatics and just about everything you could possibly want from an hour and a bit show like this. But what sets this show apart is that they continue to push things to the extreme. It’s impossible not to get swept up in the splendour of it all, asking yourself “did they really just do that!?”
Yes, they did. But to the defense of us mere mortals, they have been touring this show for quite a long time. So they’ve had a lot of practice. But will that thought make you feel any better about yourself? You’ll have to enter the world of LIMBO and make up your own mind.
LIMBO continues until 26th January, with performances daily (except Mondays)
