Momix is an American dance-circus troupe whose last two London visits were great fun. Opus Cactus (2005) and last year's Lunar Sea were also a bit cheesy, I have to admit, but the dancers had poise and flair, the lighting and costumes were ingenious, and the trick-ography (for it's not really choreography) was such a barmy laugh that you didn't mind the New Age nuttiness of it all.
Admittedly, the Aboriginal chants, the Indian mystics, and general ethnic-floaty feel will have the grown-ups groaning, yet children love the visual trickery and acrobatic dancing, and a greatest hits show should be a winner.
Well, it's not quite. Of the 15 short acts that make up the show and span company founder Moses Pendleton's 20-plus year career, less than half are any good. The rest look eccentric and dated, and miles off the best circus and dance we see here.
The first act was full of duds. The Spawning featured three women on Space Hopper-style balloons, The Last Vaudevillian was a dire puppet act and White Widow was a drippy ballerina-ontrapeze routine.
The evening was rescued by some ring-ding performances in the Pole Dance, some great illusion-dancing in Bay of Seething when the dancers morph into gorgeous sea birds, and the good-humoured shadow dancing in E.C.
However, even with the appealing finale, you come away feeling the show is a way for Momix to make money without making much effort.
Until 24 November (0844 412 4300, www.sadlerswells.com).
Momix: Greatest Hits!
Peacock Theatre
Portugal Street, WC2A 2HT
