Twins at their peak

If you're looking for proof that the best things come in small packages, then check out the acrobatic Caesar Twins. They might have only a fraction of the budget of Cirque Du Soleil but, with boundless gymnastic talent and cheeky charisma to spare, they're every bit a match for the Canadian mega-circus.

The 'And Friends' of the title is a bit of a conceit. Singing contortionist Jennifer Adler and saxophonist Andrè Borges are diverting enough but they're clearly only there to allow Pablo and Pierre, the Caesars, to draw breath between stunts. Which is fair enough, given the muscle-pumping demands the duo put themselves through over the course of 80 minutes.

Whether simulating a Crouching Tiger-style video game, twirling off a bungee or using each other as human seesaws, they are the real deal when it comes to acrobatic tricks. But what marks them out from the crowd, aside from their Eurotrash blond, identical twin-ness, is their desire to create a show that's more than just a string of set pieces.

So, woven among the high-octane bouncy stuff is dance and comedy, strung around a framework designed to illustrate the telepathic bond that unites them, the X factor required to pull off their gravity-defying skills. They fly by the seat of their pants at times, yet the Caesars possess such engaging stage presence you can't help but will them on.

The production is rough around the edges. But at its best, in a gripping sequence which casts a chilling spotlight on a life-threatening accident Pablo once suffered, the result is circus with a defiantly human touch. Resistance is useless.

Until Feb 11, Comedy Theatre, Panton Street SW1, Mon to Sat 8pm, Wed and Sat mats 3pm, £15 to £25, £15 concs. Tel: 0870 060 6637. Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Caesar Twins And Friends