I must admit that when asked to review Opus 7 I had slight reservations. This was my only evening in the house this week, and a production described as ‘a cocktail of funky brass beats and awe-inspiring physical feats’ wouldn’t necessarily be my obvious ‘go-to’ for an evening’s entertainment. However, as soon as I turned up at the Oxford Playhouse, my qualms were put to rest. Any show that requires a candy floss machine in the foyer and opens with a brass band performance of the Sherlock theme-tune is fine by me.
Circa Tsuica is a French company of entertainers who are making their UK debut with the Opus 7 tour. Their show is a combination of excellent music (primarily on brass instruments) and acrobatics. Their stage interaction is something special to watch as they employ a musical technique called Soundpainting (invented in the mid-1970s) to co-ordinate all their movements. This is so seamless that I didn’t realise this until I read about it afterwards.
Opus 7 is an outstandingly fun show, perfect for children and adults, and despite its silliness, it doesn’t stray into the realm of pantomime (you remember how I feel about pantomime). Clever asides and charming audience interaction make it suitable for all audiences. My only quibble about the show is its layout. The cast have made an effort to involve a local youth band in each town they visit, which is admirable and fun. However, after a grand and dramatic finale to the show, it’s a slight anticlimax to return to hear a normal band perform. This is in no way meant to decry the talents of the Oxfordshire Dixie Jazz Band who are helping out for the Oxford performance, and are a group of superb young musicians, but I would have preferred to see them earlier in the show. At the end, they almost feel like an afterthought, which does them a disservice.
If you want laughs and musical and acrobatic talent, dash down to the Oxford Playhouse this evening and grab some popcorn and a seat – you won’t be disappointed! ★★★★☆ @BookingAround 3rd March 201s
