Slava's Snow Show, The Mayflower (From Daily Echo)

Slava's Snow Show, The Mayflower

10:07am Wednesday 5th October 2011 in Stage Reviews By Lorelei Reddin, Entertainments Editor

THE most spectacular blizzard I’ve ever seen raining down on us followed by an impromptu snowball fight – during the hottest autumn I’ve ever known.

But that wasn’t even close to being the most bizarre thing I saw as Slava’s Snow Show returned to Southampton last night.

Expect the unexpected as a bed becomes a boat, a web of cotton envelopes the entire audience and one tiny piece of white paper becomes a snowstorm that will blow you all away.

I’m still finding those little snowballs in my clothes now!

You’re not even safe during the interval, when you shouldn’t even consider moving from your seat. Just one little trip to the bar and you might miss being clambered on by a clown, drenched by a spinning umbrella or being taken on your own acrobatic tour of the theatre.

The show starts simply enough with lots of action from a team of clowns who are often hilarious but sometimes rather dark.

A host of clever sequences and exceptional use of props keeps everyone enthralled as the production builds to its unique crescendo.

Without giving too much away it’s safe to say that the finale is an interactive joy that no kid or big kid will ever forget. And play-time with the giant colourful props flying around the crowd lasts as long as you want it to.

Slava’s Snow Show has become an international phenomenon.

I now know what all the fuss is about.

This is clowning around at its best. An unmissable, unique treat, which is both utterly bizarre and completely brilliant.