Weird, wacky and subversive are just three adjectives to describe the Seattle based comedy troupe, Circus Contraptions. A bit like a circus sideshow on hallucinogenic, the band of gypsy’s cleverly mix original musical numbers with an array of jugglers, sword swallowers, aerial acrobatics, burlesque and cabaret. Not for the faint hearted, Circus Contraptions appeals to those who live on the fringes of society.

The troupe started as an idea between Lara Paxton and David Crellin in 1998. Paxton was doing some other performance art and learning aerial, while Crellin was in a band that included some fairly theatrical aspects. The two had worked together on a few parties that his band played at.

Now in their tenth year, the first real Circus Contraption show was at a short-lived event called ArtsEdge in spring 1999 - a festival at Seattle Center that featured experimental artwork from many disciplines, “We did a short show, outside on the pavement,” explains Erin Brindley, Managing Director. “We had a little canvas backdrop that kept falling over, and our “ring” was made from votive candles within little glass jars covered with tissue paper. The aardvark act, which you can still see in our shows, debuted here.” The small production also featured jugglers, a pelican dance, and a weird piece with dancers in blue masks and costumes, carrying large, glowing golden eggs around - these are still staples in their productions of today.

As their popularity grew, so did the show. The first big show which included the band, God’s Favorite Beef Cake, debuted at the Seattle FringeFest of 1999. Drew Keriakedes aka Shmootzi the Clod, leads the band and writes a majority of the songs that accompany the show’s theatrics. A bit like a crossbreed between Tom Waits and Frank Zappa, Keriakedes (guitar, ukulele, accordion and vocals) and company utilize washboard percussion, bells, whistles and other atypical instrumentation to create a carnival-like sound. With a quick wit and horde of corny jokes, he greets audiences by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, if that is in fact your real name, welcome” before launching into a bizarre story or whimsical song.

The troupe have written and produced six shows in a 10 year time span - each one topping the previous one. One of their most elaborate shows ran from 2004 to 2006. Grand American Traveling Dime Museum was a captivating story of a 19th century sideshow which featured a, among other oddities, fortune teller, aerial acrobatics, peep show, and pickled punks. The show had a short run in New York and the reviews from both Times Out New York and NY Theatre were glowing.

Circus Contraptions currently has two shows in rotation - one is a scaled back, music heavy variety show. The other is a full ensemble cast show called The SHOW to End All SHOWS, “We are keeping our audiences appetites whetted with these more informal cabarets that give our artists more opportunity to experiment with new ideas,” said Brindley.

The SHOW to End All SHOWS, which tells the story of an American traveling circus like the ones that went out of fashion in the 70’s and 80’s, led by a charismatic Jim Jones-style ringmaster, resumed production in January of 09. “The SHOW to End All SHOWS” is our most ambitious project to date,” said Brindley. “It is our homage to traditional Ringling-style American circus, as well as an exploration of culty group dynamics. Our latest twisted take on Americana tells the story of the show that must go on, despite all evidence that the show, and maybe even the world, will extinguish before the final act.”

More than a show, Circus Contraptions acts as a local charity, “We are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit able to accept tax-deductible donations,” explained Brindley. “We also have a consistent relationship with The Orion Center for homeless youth, and give them tickets to our shows as well as lead workshops for the kids. The Aerial Army of Love is the wing of Circus Contraption dedicated to service, and each year we sponsor Aerlift which is a fundraiser for Camino Seguro, a community in Guatemala that lives off of a landfill.”

If you are planning a grip to the Emerald City and want to take home an experience you soon won’t forget, be sure and pop in on this wacky group of misfits - you’ll be glad you did.

>Written by d/visible contributor Tony Engelhart.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 2:49 pm and is filed under Performing Arts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.