Create and send a request.

        `request_type` is the request type (string). This is used to look up a
        plugin, whose request class is instantiated and passed the remaining
        arguments passed to this function.

def perform_request(self, request_type, *args, **kwargs):
        """
        Create and send a request.

        `request_type` is the request type (string). This is used to look up a
        plugin, whose request class is instantiated and passed the remaining
        arguments passed to this function.
        """
        # create a request
        req = api_request(request_type, *args, **kwargs)

        # send it
        res = self.send_request(req)

        return res