Sensuous, Sexy, SOAP

London’s Southbank featured a sexy, thrilling, funny show by the name of SOAP. SOAP is not just all bubbles and water. This year’s Underbelly Festival featured a unique combination of acrobatics, comedy, and live opera, all surrounded by bathtubs. The show was performed by a super skilled troupe who twist, turn, fly, fling, contort and juggle in a time span of 70 minutes.

SOAP, conceived and choreographed by Markus Pabst and Maximillian Rambaek, opens with five pairs of bare, toned limbs scissoring out of baths along to the beat of an opera version of Gnarls Barkley’s hit song Crazy and closes with all eight performers dancing in a ‘choreographed’ routine. Between these two acts are sandwiched individual and grouped together acts featuring: Moritz Haase, the trapezist; Lena Reid, an aerial hoopist, contortionist and dancer; Vanessa Alvarez, a foot juggler; Marie-Andrée Lemaire, a circus performer and clown; Anton Belyakov, an acrobat and hand balance specialist; Daniel Leo Stern, a specialist in aerial straps and acrobatics; Adem Yemam, a juggler; and lastly, Jennifer Lindshield, an American soprano.

I was completely taken aback at first by the unconventionality of pop opera and circus acts combined together. However, I found that the opera contributed to the comedy of the show and added a sense of feeling to the entire performance. My favorite act was the comedic stylings of Marie-Andrée Lemaire, who engaged and brought laughter to the audience. I also was highly impressed by Vanessa Alvarez’s unique skill of towel spinning. Not only is she able to spin towels on her hands and feet, but she’s also able to juggle them in the air. She is an impeccable balancer with skilled timing and strength. The largest part of the show consisted of beautifully performed acrobatics. Lena Ried, Vanessa Alvarez, and Daniel Stern told a very elegant, sensual, passionate story with such feeling and intensity. Another amazing performance was done by Anton who is a magnificent acrobatic and did a routine in a bathtub filled with water. His impressive origami precision and ability to balance upside down won the crowd. Also, I found the trapeze number by Mortiz astonishing, daring, and graceful. Throughout the show, it was all held together by Lemaire who is a charming contemporary clown, comedic and surprisingly an effective foot puppet as well as Lindshield who can sing popular songs in a combination of pop, opera, and classical.

I absolutely loved this show and found it to be hilarious, sensuous, and artistic. However, a word of caution for anyone that is not prepared to get soaked, don’t sit near the front stage!