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Lee Thompson Pickpocket in
Cirque de Soleil, Kooza
Atlanta, USA, 2009
Reviewed by Jonathan Jay
I've known Lee for over twenty years and when we shared a house in London way
back then, we always talked about our dreams of 'making the big time'. By chance
I was in Atlanta on business, where Lee has a starring role in the latest Cirque
de Soleil spectacular hit creation, "Kooza".
I feel Lee’s success as a performer is due to a culmination of over twenty years
of hard graft, establishing and perfecting his craft, working the good, bad and
ugly gigs, but forever striving for something more. To acquire this prestigious
role, he fought off fierce competition from other professional pickpockets
around the world. Who wouldn't want to tour the world - and be very well paid
for it at the same time?
Lee has the only non-scripted part in the show, and only uses pure pickpocketing
skill. Not a magic trick in sight, no sponge balls, no cards, no coins to
distract his volunteer, just his astounding showmanship, improvisation, physical
comedy, verbal skills and electric persona.
With a 2,500 seated arena and eight to ten shows a week, he is the only person
in the show to be introduced with his real name. His section in the show is
different every night; he has seconds to find a volunteer from the audience (no
stooges are used), find someone wearing a jacket and someone who may have
something in their pockets. And he has no guarantee how they are going to re-act
on stage.
The mild Atlanta weather means that most people were wearing very casual
clothes, but Lee managed to relieve his volunteer of his camera (and took photos
of him without him realising it), watch, wallet and ultimately, his tie. Lee
Thompson is very funny and he makes it look so easy! By the time you read this
the show will have moved to New York for two months. I loved every minute of the
show and would strongly recommend you try and see it if you can.
© Jonathan Jay, June 2009