The circus vaudeville Absinthe, playing in the beveled-mirrored, colored glass-walled, Old World-style Spiegeltent, cannot hope to compete with the spectacle of a Cirque du Soleil. Nevertheless, there is something captivating about it, and it's apparent as soon as Camille O'Sullivan takes the stage, delivering an initially sultry, later exuberant styling of Jacques Brel's "Carousel" in the fog-filled tent.
When the English Gents (Denis Lock and Hamish McCann in three-piece pinstriped suits) arrive, you're not sure what to expect, but soon they're performing balancing acts with an air of sophistication rarely found in such feats of physical prowess. Amusingly, the Gents have a naughty surprise in their impressive encore.
No circus is complete without a clown, and here buffoonery takes a dark sexual turn in the form of Miss Behave (Amy Saunders in a skintight red vinyl dress). Blowsy and tipsy, Miss B comes to the stage between acts, sometimes with a bit of nonsense and other times displaying her ability as a swallower of long objects.
Miss B's clowning is surpassed, however, by Captain Frodo, who resembles a skanky Bobby Riggs and fits his double-jointed body through two tennis rackets while delivering existential patter. Yulia Pikhtina's captivating display of agility while spinning Hula-Hoops contrasts the show's comedy with genuine sensuality.
While the guest New Yorker, Red Bastard (Eric Davis), slowed a recent performance with his in-your-face comedy, Absinthe's finale — a rope act performed by David O'Mer — encapsulates all the show's qualities. Swinging gracefully from two ropes and skimming the water in a bathtub, the shirtless O'Mer, wearing skintight wet jeans, is simultaneously elegant, athletic, and erotic. Experiencing this and other moments of Absinthe in such a close and refined environment is a true delight.
Presented by Ross Mollison and Vallejo Gantner at Spiegeltent, South Street Seaport, NYC. Aug. 3-Oct. 1. Tue.-Thu., Sun., 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 8 and 10 p.m. (212) 279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com.