JUST WHEN you think as a reviewer that you’ve seen so much there is nothing more in theatre to surprise you, along comes ‘Slava’s Snow Show’ to make you eat your words.
It is simply the most sumptuous, delightful night of magical original theatricality I’ve been a part of. This is so much more than a watching experience as it also takes audience participation to a whole new level; we all bond – cast and onlookers – to indulge in and share a night of joy and wonders.
Created and staged by the world’s leading clown Slava Polunin and co-directed by Viktor Kramer, ‘Slava’s Snow Show’ has travelled the world for quite a few years – and yet, so the legend has it, no two performances have ever been the same.
Picture by Aya Rufin. s
It’s impossible to put into words the feelings this show produces – it’s the only one I’ve ever seen that unites every age level at the same time.
From five to 95, Slava and his fellow clowns tap into our dreams and take us to the outer limits of our imaginations.
My five-year-old grandson Jacob who accompanied me when asked said: “No it wasn’t good – it was brilliant!”
Simple but so-clever staging, unbelievable physicality and stunning effects take us through a whole gambit of emotions from rib-tickling belly laughs to uncontrollable tears with many a neck-hair-raising moment along the way.
Slava Polunin’s clowns are the exact opposite of Stephen King’s scary ‘Pennywise’.
In act one they soon become our best friends and guide on a journey no-one will want to end – their clowning goes up and down alleyways of playful comedy and thought-provoking tragedy and there are balloons, bubbles and of course, snow galore!
Polunin maybe 74 but he is still himself – he’s the grand master of theatrical gesture and we are hooked on every wave of his finger or twitch of his eyebrow.
The interaction continued in the interval with clowns walking on the top of the seats from back to front of the auditorium showering all in their paths with confetti from their umbrellas and high-fiving the delighted folk who had stayed not strayed to the bars.
The second half is where things get jaw-dropping, the performances more contagious, the stories deeper and the effects bigger; culminating in an unforgettable finale where we are all trapped inside a giant snow globe.
No-one wanted to go home at the end – when we finally left, cast and watchers were still interacting together.
I’m still feeing a warm glow from the ‘Slava experience’ and the words gushing out of Jacob’s mouth in the car home are still ringing in my ears today:
“There was scary cobwebs but nice scary, the snow was amazing and the whole show was really funny and made me happy.”
With all the big panto’s yet to open I guarantee there won’t be a more magical show anywhere in the land – grab a ticket and take a child with you if you can and share the joy – but if you can’t then just capture the memories for yourselves.
This really is a show neither me or Jacob will ever forget.
Slava’s Snow Show is at the Alexandra Theatre until Saturday, November 15. Click here for times, tickets and more information.
*****
Review by Euan Rose and Jacob Lees
For Euan Rose Reviews
