The setting was top class all the way when Pierre Battaglia welcomed guests to the ninth anniversary celebration of the Couples San Souci on the beach at the far end of the property. There, cocktails flowed as the guests were waited on with busy waiters, with vests of clowns, matching the ‘Alegria Cirque Sans Souci’ theme. Guests were garlanded with lights for the neck or hand and then invited to dinner which was the exceptional Sans Souci fare, a buffet with an abundance of dishes and a tantalizing fare that has marked its history.Then came a well-orchestrated show. The most magical part of the splendid performances, was whenone of the female acrobats, hung diagonally, she self- propelled, suspended by the ankle, pushing her rotations to a blur of speed, her hanging foot and head flying past the metal upright of the trapeze with only inches to spare, causing gasps from the audience.The other performers were thrilling too, especially the unicyclist who, apart from showing the brilliance of his balance, worked beautifully with his simple props, one set of them being cups that he had to pick up from the floor, reaching down from his cycle or showing his skills riding between them. Quite a showman, he played mute in communicating with the audience and took volunteers from among the dinner guests scaring the audience with his stunts, worked with his volunteers.The acrobats themselves did beautiful balances and formation of figures using each other’s body and their floral leotards helped for a beautiful picture against the night sky.
The grounds had been set up with two small stages to the side and a centre stage where most of the action was announced. Theatre lights set back on the ground helped the spectacle created by entertainment team leader Alex Welcome.Among those in attendance were Lee Issa and son Abe, Paul Issa and son Jude, Joey Issa and wife Asha, Ernest Smatt, Chris Bovell and wife, Michelle, Sue McManus, Eva Myers, Michael Belnavis and wife Kyle Mais and Andrew Todd.
