Review by Steve Bennett

La Clique is now firmly established as a Fringe staple, a
sultry, decadent late-night cabaret where the discerning and
the adventurous can sample an eclectic mix of bizarre and wonderful
variety acts. The seductive atmosphere of danger, anticipation
and burlesque buzzing through the elegant Spiegeltent is intoxicating;
and the show a feast for the senses.

It's a genuine celebration of the strange, and as such a perfect
example of the spirit of the Fringe ­ which if.comeddie judges
might want to consider when it comes to the new Panel Award.
As The Incredible Rubber Man, Captain Frodo, points out as he
perches precariously on a teetering tower of cans, you genuinely
can't believe people do these mad things for a living.

Frodo, a Clique regular, is an undoubted star of the show.
His main trick, to pass through two tennis racquets of ridiculously
small diameter might bring tears to your eyes, were it not for
the wonderful sense of stupid slapstick he adds to his predicament.
He's a genuinely gifted physical comedian ­ the fact he can
dislocated his joints at will is just a handy extra.

Skating Willers is another returning highlight of this year's
line-up; spinning on a tiny platform at speeds rarely seen outside
those Nasa G-force machines, an Elvis-alike flings his female
partner out over the crowds heads, swooping her within millimetres
of the floor. It's dizzying just to watch, truly breathtaking.

Gorgeous opera diva Ali McGregor doesn't just steal your breath,
but your heart and soul too, with an exquisitely haunting rendition
of Radiohead's Creep. And what she does to music, rubber-limbed
tango duo Los Hermanos Macana do to movement with an astonishing
display of speed and elegance. Voluptuous Viktoria Lapidus also
demonstrates impressive, graceful physicality with an energetic
routine involving more hula hoops than you could imagine.

Not everything's quite so high energy. The Twins - Edinburgh Fringe 2006 at Chortle.co.uk">Caesar Twins strike
stunning, artful, athletic poses from drapes hung from the tent's
roof; while Robert Choinka is similar, but sexier, with his routine
bringing to life anyone who's had a fantasy about a oiled, toned
motor mechanic. Stranger fetishes are explored with freakish
striptease act Bridge Markland, though this seems more voyeurism
than art.

There are also guest starts each night. Today it was Spymonkey
with their cheeky Carry-On style streaker piece from Cooped ­
think the Greatest Show On Legs' Balloon Dance, but with pompoms
­ and the fast-paced guitar-based physical shenanigans of
Olé.

It's a weird a mix as you'll find anywhere in Edinburgh, and
if one turn isn't to your liking, the next surely will. But it's
really all about the glorious, underground ambience, so lap it
up.

Steve Bennett

Review date: 1 Jan 2006
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett