After wowing audiences (myself included) at the Peacock Theatre last year with their ‘iD’ show, the Montreal-based Cirque Éloize are back with brand-new, rootin’-tootin’ outing ‘Saloon’. It's a kind of family-friendly celebration of the days of the Wild West – all played out across a series of chinese pole, Cyr wheel, aerial hoop, mime and physical slapstick routines.
Interestingly, music comes to the fore far more than it has in previous productions, courtesy of a number of country and bluegrass songs led by Sophie Beaudet’s Parton-esque vocals. If this is way dafter than ‘iD’, it’s the best possible way: there’s barroom fisticuffs, eyes following ricocheting bullets, lit sticks of dynamite being thrown back and forth, and chases across locomotive carriages. Highlights include Jules Trupin’s skittle juggling and Shena Tschofen’s curiously languorous Cyr wheel display, done to the Patsy Cline’s ‘Crazy’.
The final seesaw setpiece – involving three guys taking it in turns to propel themselves up to the roof of the stage – is astounding. But really, it’s the homespun humour that brings ‘Saloon’ to life, and offers further proof that what sets Jeannot Painchaud’s company apart isn’t virtuoso showmanship but the fact that the cast are all having a demonstrably good time. Let’s hope they bring another show to the Peacock this time next year.