La Soiree

There is something undeniably apt about a night of vaudevillian shenanigans in the Edwardian setting of the Forum Theatre, and the nu-circ/burlesque stars of La Soiree certainly create a whirl of pre-war delight.

By combining eye-popping acrobatics and Weimar Berlin cabaret naughtiness, La Soiree dishes up a veritable smorgasbord of spectacle and sauciness. It's neither rocket science nor particularly cutting edge but that's hardly the point. Indeed, acts such as the English Gents, with their amazing strength and superb sense of subtle comic timing, encapsulate the vibe.

However, as with every show that goes down the 'variety' path, there are hits and misses. While the ultra-bendy Nordic contortionist Captain Frodo is a clear highlight, the rather pointless drag act Le Chocolat Gateau and the bewilderingly dull Mooky are enough to make you start looking at the clock and wondering whether it's time to leave.

Even if you are tiring of the seemingly endless circus revival, two hours ringside with La Soiree will make you whoop and holler. The sheer physical cleverness of acts such as hula queen Jess Love and the very pretty Bret Pfister are enough to rivet your attention. When you mix that up with a little adult humour and full frontal nudity what you get is an undiluted good night out, as splendid a thing in 2012 as it was in 1912.

Running until Thursday 29 November, Forum Theatre