The phrase ‘on the edge of your seat’ has been used and abused.
But all three of us — ages 4, 7 and knocking on 40 — were literally on the tips of our chairs throughout Cirque Eloize’s mind-bending show iD, playing at Peacock Theatre in Holborn until Oct 19.
My vocabulary shrank to about 3 phrases (‘woah’, ‘wow’ and ‘Oh my God’) as we watched a troupe of 15 incredible athletes across various disciplines spinning, cycling, gliding, climbing, bouncing and generally making gravity their bitch.
Where to begin? From the guy who clung to a slim pole with legs spread out horizontally, so that he was practically walking on air, to the lady who could cover her eyes from behind… with her feet!
How about the stunt cyclist playing a sort of Russian Roulette with a brave (possibly mad) volunteer from the audience that left us gasping? Or the astounding vision of one man balancing on two arms on the top of a tower of chairs?
At one point, I nearly spilled my drink as someone fell from a building — only to bounce right up in the start of a trampolining display that was as fun as it was graceful.
Fun was the key word — these dancers, acrobats, swingers and jugglers appear to be having such a blast on stage that you can’t help but be carried along.
Commuters and construction workers, gang fights and lamplight romances, the breakneck energy of the cast combine with stunning set and lighting and truly startling choreography, creating vivid snapshots of urban life.
I loved how they blended so many forms: whether it was a rollerblader performing a pas de deux with a lady dangling from a sheet, or breakdancers spinning on their heads in time with a woman rocking the Cyr Wheel.
Go to Cirque Eloize: iD and be amazed by the sight of ordinary humans leaping right over the limits of possibility! I’m still raving about this show.
Oh yeah, the babes loved it too.
Cirque Eloize iD is at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, Holborn. Ages 5+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat) & 2.30pm (Sat-Sun only); adult £15-£42/child half-price (Oct 1-19)
