Acrobatic

One of the most anticipated evenings' of the year ... the bunfight at the Centre Culturel for the launch of the season. The format was changed slightly this year: it started earlier, and was presentation of the programme, hour-long show, and finally the bunfight. Superb as usual; it really is the best buffet for miles around, which largely accounts for the fact that it's always packed (invitation only). Lots of beautiful and unusual little canapes, and a couple of chefs at industrial-sized gas planchas turning out delicious skewers of spiced chicken, lamb, and salmon. And unlike most events of this type (and certainly last night's collation) there is more than enough food for 300 people to eat their fill and try a bit of everything.

There were quite a few interesting prospects in the programme too. The show this evening, Slips Inside, was a couple of Belgian comedians/acrobats who reminded me a bit of Morecambe and Wise in appearance and behaviour. They came on stage in large terry towelling dressing gowns, but even then, just looking at their visible bits of leg, I could tell they were serious acrobats. It was basically mime/(very) childish physical humour, performed in underpants (slips = underpants en français). But you have to be really skilled to pull off deliberately clumsy acrobatics like this. Especially the person at the bottom supporting a clumsily climbing partner. It was perhaps a little too long, but the, erm, climax was brilliant: the skinny one balancing on the shoulders of his partner and leaping expertly into a pair of Y-fronts held stretched out in front of him. Yes, you had to be there :)