At Southbank’s London Wonderground, audience members tend to expect the unexpected with the headlining shows. That is no different with Cirque Alfonse’s Barbu show featuring a French Canadian cast of bearded men and fit women. The show started off tamer than expected, with a juggling and acrobatics routine featuring all the men in modest clothing. The modesty didn’t last long though. The show really picked up the pace when one of the bearded cast members entered the stage wearing what looked like a disco ball around his bare body and did a ring routine.
What made the show so fun and enjoyable with the personalities of each of the cast members. The men were not afraid to shake their hips, and everyone was in to joke around leaving the audience laughing and clapping along.
While the show was funny and silly to watch, that didn’t take away from the amazing acrobatics and strength that was displayed by everyone in the group. The entire crew knows how to put on a good show that took the audience back to how circus acts used to be. The aerial routine was a sight to see as one of the woman went soaring around the stage, inches from audience members faces.
The night can be best described as sexy, humorous and jammed packed with lots of personality. Barbu is a strange show that leaves the audience members wishing that they could hang out with the personable cast for at least another hour. Some audience members got to take shots with the cast, others got lap dances, and one lucky guy was even brought on stage to pie one of the Cirque Alfonse members.
When the lights went up, everyone in the group proceeded to go outside to enjoy a beer with the crowd and take pictures with fans. There is a reason why this show is headlinging at the Wonderground until September. It truly is spectacle that should not be missed.
Barbu is playing at Southbank’s London Wonderground until 25 September. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/2016-season-barbu
