LIMBO – The Return

It’s dangerous and death defying, it's flirtatious and sexy, it's spiritual and it's visceral. It has been ten years in the making, and it's toured and received a dictionary’s worth of positive hyperbole from audiences and critics across 17 countries. LIMBO is so cool even Madonna has seen it – twice! When you’re a critic heading into a show like this, you wonder if it will live up to all of the hype. Spoiler alert: oh yes, you’d better believe it will.

LIMBO – The Return marks the grand opening of an exciting new venue called The West End Electric, situated a stone's throw from Brisbane’s CBD in (you guessed it) West End. What’s exciting about this venue is it’s Brisbane’s fabulous new home to Strut & Fret, the talents behind Spiegeltent and The Grand Electric in Sydney.

The moment you arrive, the stage is set for a great night. You’re greeted warmly at the doors like you're an old friend, and stepping into The West End Electric is like stepping back in time into some kind of 1920s circus dreamscape. The signage and interior decor are luscious art deco style, the ushers and bar staff are dressed to suit the era, and there's a sense of magic and pageantry in the air. Warm lighting, smoke haze, thrust stage framed with a lit marquee, a miniature sparkling Ferris wheel, antique carousel horses, sumptuous velvet curtains - every little detail adds to the amazing atmosphere.

Once seated, you’re eased gently into the world of LIMBO with some wonderfully original music. Composer and musician Sxip Shirey leads a merry trio including Grant Arthur and Mick Stuart, all of whom show great theatricality and outstanding musicianship. Their soundtrack which includes vocals, harmonica, bullhorn, a marble in a glass bowl, sousaphone, minimoog, polymba, drums and bass, provides the beating heart that awakens and keeps the show alive. Before long, the versatile cabaret and circus performers appear in a thrilling opening sequence that showcases their teamwork and sparkles like a perfectly cut diamond.

Choreographer and dancer Hilton Denis delivers on a personal level as an energetic and dynamic dancer but also as a creator of entertaining sequences for the whole cast. David Marco Pintado is fearless and flexible, showing a lot of bravery and ability in acrobatics and slack wire. Forget circus silks! Maria Moncheva prefers ropes and chains when she’s flying and tumbling gracefully above the audience, showing her strength and agility with dancerly quality. Ben Loader is charismatic and engaging with outstanding aerial rope work and terrific skill on the bendy poles. Clara Fable’s fire eating and breathing work, and her beautiful singing and dancing are unforgettable.

Creative Director Scott Maidment must be commended for bringing together such a high standard of talent in an impeccably polished show. Philip Gladwell’s lighting and set design is picture-perfect and truly enrapturing. Lucy Scott’s costumes are super sexy and give the performers room to stretch and move without hindrance. The performers work as a unified team, and you can feel their love for their craft.

LIMBO – The Return guarantees a good time. It’s exciting, cheeky, and gorgeous. You really can throw a dictionary’s worth of positive hyperbole at this show and you still would not be over-selling it.  

Kitty Goodall

Photography by Brit Mobbs.