OH OH (Underbelly, George Square, Udderbelly) is a clowning, circus show, with no words but plenty of facial expressions, which do the trick just as well, if not better. Camilla Pessi and Simone Fassari employ all the charm and timing of Charlie Chaplin, making it a show for all the family. I heard some concerns from the lovely staff beforehand about the number of children waiting to enter the huge cow-shaped tent, and they sensibly suggested a trip to the toilet before the show for the little ones. They described the show as ‘quiet’, which of course it is—there are no words—but it’s full of oohs and ahhs all the same.
It’s amazing what can be conveyed by a raise of the eyebrow, a shrug of the shoulders, or a downturn of the mouth, and these acrobats have a whole compendium of expressions, drawing the audience in all the while. The double act routines had us feeling sorry for one and laughing with the other one minute, and reversing those emotions the next. A roller-coaster of fun and games.
But OH OH isn’t all Jacques Tati mime. Oh no, it isn’t! The clowning is superb, but the acrobatics elevate the show further. There is beautiful aerial work from Camilla, using a suspended rope ladder, and delightful paired work, with Camilla leaping onto Simone’s shoulders, as well as balancing head to head. Simone is the master of the balancing act, and there are well-deserved gasps from the audience when the array of suggested objects to be balanced is proffered.
There is a lovely routine using skipping ropes. Camilla is a magician! Simone is less nimble, but if the slip-ups weren’t intentional, then they made it look that way. Bravo! There is also music—played by the performers. It’s delightful.
The title of the show—OH OH—is as clever as the show itself. The audience utters the words in admiration of the skills of the two characters, but it might also be more like ‘uh-oh’ to express the ‘mistakes’ made by the performers when trying to steal a chair from one another or some other potential misdemeanour.
OH OH is old-fashioned—in a good way—and great fun for all the family. It’s heartwarming to know that slapstick and clowning still make us laugh out loud.
