If anything can lighten the winter blues it is the dazzling Traces, the second production by the French-Canadian company now widely known as The 7 Fingers.
This playful show is shot through with an electricity that takes circus theatre to new heights. It is based around the lives of its prodigiously talented young artists - the Parisian wonder-girl Heloise Bourgeois and her American co-star hunks, Francisco Cruz, Brad Henderson, Will Underwood and Philip Rosenberg, who replaces the injured Raphael Cruz.
From Chinese poles and Chinese hoops to acrobatics without boundaries, from scintillating hand to hand, and hand-balancing on a forest of mannequin body parts to extraordinary work on Cyr wheel, their moves are risky and thrilling. Expertly choreographed street skills with basket balls and skateboards sit alongside Bourgeois’ delicate display on an aerial loop.
But there is much more to them than pure athleticism. While some may long for privacy, they open up and describe moments from their own lives - both funny and poignant - in a personable and disarming manner. Singing and playing piano are also well within their grasp and the action is further enhanced by an edgy score that includes Radiohead, Ry Cooder and Blackalicious tracks.
However, Traces is about to have a change of hands as London is its last run with this exceptional cast. They may be a hard act to follow, but judging by Rosenberg - one of the new line-up - Traces will undoubtedly still leave an indelible mark when it opens in Montreal next month.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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