The Widow’s Best of 2017
To steal the title of a Piano Magic track, The Nightmare Goes On. Well, we remember saying last year had been a bit grim, and, let’s face it, this one has been even worse. But hey, there are always shows to see and find solace in. 2017 has provided some great ones, and thrown up a surprise in our Best Show category. All shows are in London – that’s where we live – and here’s what we think.
CIRCUS ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Hula-hooper and contortionist Emi Vauthey. We’ve been entranced by her since we first saw her in Cirque Eloize’s iD. Now she’s touring with the 7 Fingers’ show Réversible but, lucky London, between runs she appeared in BMT & Friends cabaret at the Albany, so everyone could marvel at her sublime skills close-to.
BEST SHOW: James Thierrée’s The Toad Knew at Sadler’s Wells took us by surprise. Having strayed into tedious territories in his last couple of shows, The Toad – weird title – was a brilliant return to form for La Compagnie du Hanneton and avoided many of Thierrée’s familiar tropes. You can read our interview with one of the performers, waacking pioneer Sonia Bel Hadj Brahim. Did her uncanny resemblance to Thierrée influence her casting in a role formerly played by the contortionist Valérie Doucet? The show also tied for BEST SET, especially for its towering gauzy backdrops and ingenious giant ‘lily pads’, which moved up and down and tilted eerily.
BEST FIRST SHOW: Alula Cyr’s Hyena, seen during the Underbelly Festival at the Southbank. Quite a long time in the making; well worth the wait.
BEST CIRCUS CABARET: BMT & Friends at the Albany. You rarely see a cabaret where every act is top class, but Barely Methodical have some extremely talented friends to add to their own outstanding skills. They also created new duo and trio acts and there was a rare chance to see the startling and chilling Bert & Fred (pictured) in the UK. Pic: Jonah Samyn
BEST SKILLS: Unicylist Sam Goodburn in Dumbstruck at Jacksons Lane.
BEST WORK-IN-PROGRESS: Lumo Company's startling and unusal Lola. Read our interviews with its stars, Hanna Moisala and Heidi Niemi. Can’t wait to see the finished show.
BEST MAGIC TRICK: Anything by veteran close-up magician Bernard Bilis as seen on Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde on France 2. After two years at the top, Ali Cook’s Find the Pea is runner-up this year.
BEST AERIALIST: Black Cat Cabaret’s Katharine Arnold/Korri Aulakh.
BEST CABARET: The effortlessly classy Lady Rizo in Red, White and Indigo at Soho Theatre. The voice, the chit-chat, and, most importantly, the gowns! And – you had to be there – who wouldn’t want to snog this amazing woman?
MOMENT OF WONDER: The glitter shower that fell as Lady Rizo removed her black satin glove; also, the Game of Thrones’ dragons!
BEST NEW ACT: The gorgeously athletic tumbling number – in outsize jumpers – by Alula Cyr’s Fiona Thornhill and Barely Methodical Troupe’s Beren D’Amico in BMT & Friends cabaret.
BEST ACT: Gina and Jacquie of Las Chicas Morales on rolling globes at Gandey's Circus/Lj Marles on his very own ‘Marles’ tension straps in La Soirée.
MOST READ WIDOW INTERVIEW: Romy Bauer from Phillip and Carol Gandey’s charity show Circus Starr.
BEST THEATRE SHOW: Robert Lepage’s 887 at the Barbican, which is our joint winner for BEST SET. All Lepage sets are stellar, and this one was no exception.
BEST TV SHOW: The Handmaid’s Tale on Channel 4/Hey Duggee on CBeebies.
FAVOURITE SQUIRREL: Squirrels, we love you all but it has to be ROLY!! Is he getting his Bubble Badge? Pic: Studio AKA.
BEST SHOWBIZ ROYALTY: The one and only Miss Fenella Fielding reading from her memoirs at the Crazy Coqs/Live at the Zedel.
MOST INNOVATIVE SHOW: Wayne McGregor’s motorised floating spheres in +/- HUMAN, which interacted with dancers from his own company and the Royal Ballet at the Roundhouse.
MOST FUN NIGHT: La Soirée at the Aldwych Theatre. Good to see some new faces this year, including London’s own Lj Marles.
BEST MONOLOGUE: Paul Zenon’s wonderful autobiographical Linking Rings at the Secret Cellar. Attention bookers: This deserves a theatre tour!
OH NO, HE’S DRAGGING ME ONSTAGE… AGAIN!: Thank you, Mr Sean Kempton, during his great solo show, Stuff, at Jacksons Lane.
BEST CHRISTMAS SHOW: Clementine, the Living Fashion Doll’s Christmas Special at the Crazy Coqs/Live at the Zedel. Pic: Martin Barber.
BEST COSTUME: Anything worn by Clementine, the Living Fashion Doll/Alfie Ordinary in Dracula mode.
BEST VARIETY SHOW: Slightly Fat Features’ Slightly Fat Show at Leicester Square Theatre. Hoping to see more of Wayne Marvell and his doves next time…
BEST CONCERT: Alex Mendham and His Orchestra at St Martin-in-the-Fields with the gorgeous singers Serena and Hannah Dunlop.
BEST PANTO: Charles Court Opera’s King Tut: A Pyramid Panto at the King’s Head.
BEST ONGOING PRODUCTION: Cirque Le Roux’s The Elephant in the Room, which has been touring France all year and is back at Bobino in Paris. Read about Lolita Costet and Philip Rosenberg.
BEST GIG: The goddess known on earth as Sevdaliza at Omeara.
BEST DANCERS: Tango duo Rocío de los Santos and Luciano Capparelli from Tanguera at Sadler’s Wells. Thanks for the tango class! MOST STYLISH LOOK: Bishi (below left)
MOST GLAMOROUS LOOK: Lili La Scala (above right)
BEST MC: Calixte de Nigremont.
BEST CIRCUS PICTURE: Circus Harmony alumna Elliana Grace, who started early! Yes, that’s her on the left!
MOST WELCOME RETURN FROM INJURY: Louis Gift, who returned to Barely Methodical Troupe for BMT & Friends, and will appear in Bromance in New York City and in BMT’s new show Shift, which premieres during the Norfolk & Norwich Festival in May next year. We’re there!
SIMPLY THE BEST: Tina T’urner Tea Lady.
MOST MISSED: The heaven-sent voices of Glen Campbell and Sharon Jones.
MOST MOVING TRIBUTE: Patti Smith writing about her friend Sam Shepard in the New Yorker.
BEST NEWS FOR 2018: The return to Soho Theatre of the madly bonkers and inimitable DIna Martina with her new show, Crème de la Dregs.
And that’s it! See you in 2018… which we’ll be kicking off by interviewing an amazing artist who is celebrating 40 years in the circus next year…