We arrived early, and were greeted by a sprawling circus tent in the middle of the LA State Historic Park, against the already glittering skyline of downtown LA. There were a handful of people congregating, milling around the grounds, waiting for the sky to darken and the gate to open into the wonderfully strange world of Cirque Berzerk.
Meanwhile, the backstage tent was bustling while generators hummed, pancake make-up applied with meticulous precision, and muscles were stretched every which way in preparation for the night. Last-minute repairs were being sewn for the racks of costumes while laughter and singing rang through the air. “This was an accidental circus,” said Kevin, one of the founders, already decked out in crackled stage make-up, a top hat, and a ringmaster-from-hell’s wardrobe. “We brought a circus tent to Burning Man in 2005, and performers just started performing.” Ten times larger than last year’s run in the same location, the ambition is to take the show on the road, and possibly tour America. Is middle America ready for them? There’s only one way to find out.
The cast is comprised of accomplished gymnasts, aerialists, dancers, contortionists, singers, and actors; some are ex-opera, ex-Cirque du Soliel and ex-Bolshoi Ballet performers. “I love the grassroots nature of this show”, says Tavi, who performs a breathtaking aerial straps routine,”There’s more room for creative expression here, and it really feel like a family of amazingly talented people.” Soon, the performers were rounded up – the show was about to begin! Inside the tent, an electricity was in the air, and it felt like the circus felt when I was little – exciting, intriguing, and a little scary – it felt authentic.
A story unfolds about a girl, silently screaming for more out of her mundane life, who encounters the Ringmaster of the Underworld, and is introduced to a Ray Bradbury meets Tim Burton dreamscape; a most deliciously surreal version of hell. There’s the dead burlesque troupe, dancing as if their limbs were barely attached; the cabaret singer, the muscle man, the aerialists, and the gravity-defying leaping brothers. There’s even a few hilarious slapstick skits to keep the mood darkly light. The lines of fantasy and reality are inextricable, as performers are swept into the air, twisting their world beautifully and illustrating possibilities of something greater, to the girl and the audience.
In the 1st act, the girl is shown the ethereal grace and eye-popping stunts of the underworld, and in the 2nd act, she’s taken even deeper into the psychos of the denizens. She sees the melancholic dance of two lovers both taken by the sea, and the somberly breathtaking silk aerial routine of the lead burlesque dancer. Soon, the entire cast joins on stage for a fire routine, a ceremonial presentation of the newest member of the clan: the girl had been assimilated into the underworld circus as their star performer.
And the crowd roared. Impressed by the athleticism, beauty, and death-defying cast, the audience across the board raved about the show. “The antithesis of Cirque du Soliel – Cirque Berzerk gives the impression that ordinary people, like you and me, can do extraordinary things”, said one inspired audience member. And that indeed is the point. “Know that it is possible to live your dreams!”, cries co-founder and artistic director Suzanne jubilantly after the show. As inspiring as it is breathtaking, this show’s magic stays with you for a long, long time.
This is the summer’s must-see! After the last performance on Aug. 9, the greatest Cirque on earth will be rolling out as swiftly as they came. Tickets are available at http://www.cirqueberzerk.com . Show is extended through Aug. 9. See it now!!!
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