Review – Soap

Just like any desirable bathtub experience, audiences at last night’s SOAP performance hastily plugged themselves in to marvel the spectacle that was refreshing, bubbling with innovation and brimming with jubilance. It would be a wet slip-up to not make mention of the cast who were truly left showered in approval.

A set that initially appeared to resemble a gleaming bathroom showroom at Reece, quickly transformed into an exuberant and captivating place of slapstick antics, theatrical dance, astounding circus acrobatics, cabaret and opera.

The toned and controlled bodies cheekily emerged from their baths skilfully mastering juggling, trapeze and toe-towel twirling. Gravity and logic defying balancing acts… all taking place on the edge of or in the tub.

The varied array of stage tricks were well complemented by an equally diverse soundtrack. Radiating from her pearly bathtub platform, like Botticelli’s painting ‘The Birth of Venus’, an opera singer delivered impressive renditions covering Sia, Gnarls Barkley, Nina Simone, Handel, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and The Beatles. The seamlessly melded melodic backdrop gave excellent support to the onstage physical feats, allowing the production to move fluidly between amusing antics to gripping drama.

Cleverly, the performance maintained the bathtub theme without letting the acts ever become trite or predictable. Although often steamy, with plentiful suggestive stripteases, the show managed to avoid sinking to low crass levels. It kept an air of sophistication and still managed to leave audience members in need of a cold-shower afterwards. It is easy to assume that these incredibly talented contemporary dancers didn’t need to be supervised in the bath as toddlers, as they were exquisitely in control of their playful porcelain surroundings. No surprise then that SOAP stole the Pick of the Fringe Award in 2012. This show utterly drowns you in displays of extreme talent and makes every future bathroom look like a space of endless opportunity and potential.