Pereira is the highlight in a somewhat hit and miss collection of acts, glued together by the musical and occasionally amusing accompaniment from a suitably corseted and high-heeled master of ceremonies. A contortionist, dancer and acrobat with comic timing and a magnetic stage presence, Pereira was performing with Cirque du Soleil at the age of 18, and now travels the globe producing his own shows.
For his latest production The Trip, Pereira has engaged a troupe the veteran acrobats The Caesar Twins, bizarre New York drag queen Baby Jane, and Ethiopian juggler Girma Tsehai. The Twins are impressive and irreverent, and Tsehai’s juggling routine uses an interesting prop to give a new twist to the age-old discipline. Baby Jane emerges on stage at regular intervals to engage in a bizarre song or dance, and creates a few laughs if a tiny man in a huge dress is your bag.
Despite impressive displays of strength, flexibility, skill, and timing, The Trip doesn’t really gel, and the cabaret vibe Pereira and his cast and crew are aiming to create never quite materialises. Nonetheless, there’s more than enough here to enjoy. Just beware, the first four rows will get wet.
BY JOSH FERGEUS
