Sweeter (and definitely spicier!) than Mary Poppins’ spoonful of sugar, Elixir Revived is just what the Fringe doctor ordered.

Billed as a reimagining of the company’s debut production, Elixir Revived is a bold, entertaining and thoroughly professional adult circus production. While this is a sequel of sorts, having not seen ‘Elixir 1’, this review is based entirely on the merit of the current show without comparison to the original. That said, those in the audience at Friday night’s show were adamant that this revamped version was tougher, stronger, funnier and way sexier than the original jaw-dropping spectacle.

“They” say one should always have a killer opening, and with three gunshots landing Specimen A on his back, the Elixir performers took this advice literally. Or perhaps not, because Specimen A bounced back resembling an extra from Micheal Jackson’s Thriller music video, immediately establishing the zombie-slash-experimental science theme of the show. Admittedly, “Specimen A” is an authorial liberty taken to better explain that the cast were part of a human laboratory experiment, whereby each elixir ingested brought about new and amazing super-human powers that the “specimens” were eager to show off.  Lucky, lucky scientific observers (otherwise known as “the audience”).

Featuring easy laughs bordering on “dad humour”, the slapstick soon gave way to skilful sets that appeared far less easy. Think inverted human pyramids, stunning aerial work, astounding physical strength coupled with enviable overall body control. However, the unimpressed moderator announced she saw nothing exceptional. And fair enough—can’t everyone do a one-handed, leaning-to-one-side handstand atop a two-metre pole? So, they tried again, this time with ladders, Latin dancing, aerial trapeze, stripping (only as far as the briefs) and more laddish humour. And, at the risk of sounding like a spoiled reviewer who’s seen far too many great shows, it really is this humour and the cast’s chemistry that distinguishes Elixir Revived from other similar shows.  

All accomplished performers, in addition to their varying skill sets, each man (and this is an all-male cast) expertly projected both personality and character through facial expressions and body language, as well as witty lines and barbs. Their individuality, ranging from the “strong man” with both beard and bun who just wanted to sing like Whitney, to the glamorous diva, zombified electric acrobat and smaller class clown with the dancing pecs (Puppetry of the Pecs?) was central to the show’s appeal. Their matey engagement through silly humour including delightful high-pitched “girly screams”, egging each other on with the ever-brutal chicken taunt, and slapstick reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy, made for a high-energy show; they were mates, and for an hour, so too was everyone in the tent. This shared camaraderie is what live performance is all about, and these performers epitomised it. 

But beyond the laughs, the show delivers some of the most accomplished performers of the entire Fringe. Breakdancing (including a nod to Raygun), knife throwing, balancing on things one should not balance on, rope work and beatboxing are just some of the offerings. It is somewhat sexy in so far as the blokes are bare chested for most of the show and what little clothing they do have does come off towards the end. But the briefs remain and, honestly, there’s more on display at the beach, and the “sexy” parts are so tongue-in-cheek that the parody diffuses any actual sexual innuendo. Bums, biceps and bewdiful bods, Elixir Revived is part amazing skill display, part fart joke, and a must for anyone seeking a truly uplifting Fringe experience.