Photo is not representative of this year’s “Cirque of the Dead.” Still cool, though. 

Presented by the Boston Circus Guild with Circus 617
Written by Tim Ellis
Directed by Eileen Little
Dance Choreography by Mandy Hackman, Ellen Waylonis
Featuring: Alex Jackson, Ellen Waylonis, Jenna Ciotta, Mandy Hackman, Nana Okada, Rachel Barringer, Rin Judith, Tim Ellis, Tori Markwalder
The online playbill

Oct 24 – Oct 31, 2024
Arts at the Armory
Somerville, MA

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Runtime is about 90 minutes with a short intermission.
This show is 18+ only, due to graphic/disturbing content.

Review by Kitty Drexel

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — This year’s Cirque of the Dead chronicles the fictitious (or is it?) Cirque of the Dead Historical Society of the 1920s Somerville spiritualist movement. Watch as three psychic mediums materialize ectoplasm from their bodies and commune with the spirit realm to convince a team of Harvard professors (Go Crimson!) and one MIT adjunct (Go Tech!) of their gifts. Tim Ellis and Tori Markwalder emcee the event. How does this match up with the choreography of New Kids on the Block, N*Sync and the Backstreet Boys? Perhaps the boy bands are defenders against the dark arts? You’ll have to attend to find out! 

Supernatural phenomena abound as the occult battles rigid logic for truth equity amongst the masses. Patrons are welcome to dress up in their ookiest, spookiest costumes. The bar is open to distribute libations to 21+ living and nonliving attendees.  

Cirque of the Dead: A Haunted Halloween Circus Spectacular is advertised as an immersive experience with performers suspended above the audience with otherworldly actors lurking around the venue. The advertisements say that “every spot in the theater is a unique experience.” This is not quite true, and that’s unfortunate.

Acquaintances told me that Cirque of the Dead wasn’t as immersive this year as in years past. There were circus acts performed on and above the stage, actors ran through the audience to get to the stage once or twice and the masters of ceremonies annihilated the 4th wall and spoke directly to the audience. But, this production is not what a regular patron would call immersive. The actors didn’t engage with the audience from the floor. Spirits and otherworldly characters weren’t hiding in corners. The ambiance was more like attending a non-spooky concert than an immersive event. This would be perfectly fine if Cirque of the Dead had advertised this show accordingly, but they didn’t. So, I sympathize with the disappointed patrons.  

Marketing SNAFUS aside, Cirque of the Dead is still a fun experience!  Attendees watch local, professionally trained circus performers expertly execute bodacious acts in midair, contort on a seance table to Nine Inch Nails, fling themselves across the stage and dance to the sweet beige funk of aughties boybands. It is campy and silly! The plot is a thinly veiled excuse to perform mildly naked, rampantly sexy aerialist acrobatics! It’s super fun don’t get stuck in the back of the house during the second like me!

Seriously though, tall folks should do the bare minimum of courtesies and stand toward the back of the house. Shorties can’t see over you or around you. Tall folks can. Placing a polite but firm production assistant in costume amidst the standing room audience to corral and calm patrons would give short persons who dared use the facilities to prevent personal leakage a chance at seeing the second half of the show and also give credence to the immersive aspects of the performance. 

Patrons who re-arrange their expectations will have a great time at Cirque of the Dead: A Haunted Halloween Circus Spectacular. It has homegrown Rocky Horror vibes with all the camp minus the oozing graphic sexiness. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

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