Club Swizzle: A Triumphant Return For La Soiree

Club Swizzle, The Roundhouse ★★★★★

By Holli-Mae Johnson Last edited 67 months ago

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Club Swizzle: A Triumphant Return For La Soiree Club Swizzle, The Roundhouse 5

There’s no show like a La Soiree show, and that’s the truth. From the moment you walk in you’re treated like a long lost friend, plied with bubbles and quirky confections, and ringmaster Brett Haylock himself might just show you to your seat. There’s an infectious aura of wonder and anticipation that rises in your chest as life and artistry bustles around you. Club Swizzle is the latest London offering, set in their traditional big top style at The Roundhouse, Camden.

Hosting the mayhem is cabaret powerhouse Reuben Kaye. A sparkling, smirking showbrat with a barrage of jugular jokes that jovially bruise without drawing blood, Kaye sings divinely and sweats profusely for your delight and disgust (front row fans should be vigilant — much as you would be when a shaggy dog comes bounding out of a pond).

Veteran variety megastar Laurie Hagen is an all singing, dancing and stripping sensation, as always. Her opening number faithfully documents the undressing procedure most women stagger through after a messy night out, flinging her fillets and slapping her pert posterior with an insole from her killer heels. When she returns she expertly tortures a male audience member in a maniacal, masochistic ode to herself. It’s also a rare opportunity to see Hagen’s world famous, award winning and entirely unique reverse striptease act, painstakingly recreated from watching reversed footage.

Tumbling tricksters The Swizzle Boys perform a dazzling and at times gasp-inducing array of acrobatic feats, with each set more impressive and charming than the last. Mesmerising aerial seductress Yammel Rodriguez and New York tap sensation Dandy Wellington round off the world class lineup, with a fabulous four-piece house band keeping the Roundhouse jumping throughout, and responding with brilliant timing to the performers’ antics.

La Soiree’s previous London outing in December, staged in the Aldwych Theatre rather than their traditional circus setup, received unusually mixed reviews. Club Swizzle is a shining example of everything they do so well; a perfect marriage of exceptional talent, immersive theatre, heart, soul, and showmanship. Bravo.

Club Swizzle, The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH. Tickets £10-£45, until 26 August 2018.

Last Updated 07 August 2018