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7 Fingers Make a Cirque of Their Own

by Zoe Strimpel
Wed, 12 Dec 2007 at 2:03 PM

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Last night a troupe of Montreal-based ex-Cirque du Soleil performers called the 7 Fingers launched their Christmas show at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London. Only the performance, "Loft," had nothing to do with Christmas, and everything to do with wacky and wowing stunts, trapeze, gymnastics, comedy, and knife-handling, set in a living room with a bathtub, to music ranging from tango to Coldplay to beatbox emitted by a dudalicious DJ.

A good part of the show was circus-like — there was a clown character and plenty of slapstick. But what made it awesome in the technical sense of the word was that everything — even the goofy parts — involved physical feats. So the clown (Patrick Léonard) wasn't downtime from the other stuff — among his clowning shtick were amazing manipulations of a set of cushiony stairs. Once he dove off a table over a 7-foot space, landing precisely on the stairs (not on his feet, but on his stomach). At other times he performed beautiful hand-to-hand gymnastics with a partner.

Each finger offered something stunning. One girl (Isabelle Chassé) did an aerial routine with nothing but a piece of red fabric; another (Faon Shane) used chains and managed to hang gracefully by her cranium; another (Gypsy Snider) could balance a machete on her forehead while being comic. Mr. Léonard, a man with a perfect body, did a hauntingly beautiful handstand routine on a set of iridescent blue pins.

The show was unique — and certainly different from Cirque du Soleil — in that the performers were a range of shapes and sizes. Ms. Snider looked a good size 12 (American), but strong as hell. In a pleasing role reversal, she hoisted Mr. Léonard upon her back like it was nothing. Then there was a very paunchy man who was awesomely strong, graceful and talented at diabolo.

"Loft" is about using imagination to ward off of boredom in an everyday domestic setting. For obvious reasons, the 7 Fingers technique won't work for most of us who are confined in bodies with normal abilities. But those looking to stimulate their imagination can always come and watch the show.

Through December 30 (0870 389 1846; www.roundhouse.org.uk).

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