ED2015 5/5 Reviews ED2015 Cabaret Reviews

Hitch (Mary Bijou Circus Theatre Company)

By Sarah Murphy | Published on Saturday 22 August 2015

Cabaret circus and Hitchcock aren’t an unlikely pair; both share a taste for mind games of the uncanny, vertigo-inducing type. ‘Hitch’ brings Hollywood thrills to the big-top in this beautiful shriek of a show, where the contortionist looks like Grace Kelly and the trapeze artist is in need of a good lawyer (spot the baroque double of the creepy housekeeper from ‘Rebecca’). “Does anyone here have any phobias?” quips the ringmaster, whose style shifts unnervingly from camp, unhinged uncle-figure to maniacally giggling bloodsucker. Add vintage dialogue recordings – including an interview with Kim Novak, playing over a striptease reinterpretation of ‘Vertigo’, with a twist of such cerebral delight that I won’t ruin it. Exquisitely spun, deliciously dark: ‘Hitch’ is one dreamy nightmare.

Big Sexy Circus City, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 5/5 | [Sarah Murphy]