Review by Steve Bennett

Review

Clowns, jokes, cabaret, acrobatics, an Igor figure near-stripping a fat punter, a Nosferatu vampire, a fake bright red vagina on a fake woman ­ all performed by two men, an ex Blue Man and an ex Cirque du Soleiler. Jonathan Taylor and Voki Kalfayan have performed around the world for more than ten years, so they have their performances polished.

They claim this show is 'largely improvisation... Every night is different as the two freaks follow their impulses and audience on an unknown ride accompanied by vampire fangs, a couple of microphones and original music'.

I have my doubts. It looked fairly shaped and scripted to me with only the audience interaction different each night. Also, it would more suitable for the Spiegeltent than the rather characterless C in the Carlton Hotel.

Freaks In The Box is very energetic and very audience-friendly but I'm afraid to say it's fairly run-of-the-mill 'new circus', too. Good of its type but I long for the return of Archaos and a bit of genuine loud anarchy.

John Fleming

Review date: 1 Jan 2006
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett