Orpheous, having such a naughty reputation inspired the naughty boys at Cirque Berzerk to base their latest show, Beneath, on his stray ways. Get ready for a visit to the fiery underworld... Photo Credit: Suzanne Bernel

Toward the end of July, as you drive pass downtown on North Spring Street, you’ll notice an unusual sight clashing with the high rise buildings you just left behind: an old-fashioned Circus tent curvaceously cutting the green landscape of the Los Angeles Historic Park.

Curious?

You should be. Circuses are a rarity these days. Good circus troupes even more so. Perhaps more reasons to attend Beneath, a new twist on the ageless tale of Orpheous, presented by our very own LA based Cirque Berzerk.

Just back from a riotous appearance at LIB 08, the Berzerk Troupe led by founders, directors, and husband and wife Kevin Bourque and Suzanne Bernel, present their very own full length circus show titled Beneath.

Inspired by the ancient tale of Orpheous, Beneath attempts to give a twist to this ageless and often revisited tale. Aerial artists, Punk clowns, raunchy cabaret and impossible contortionist acts take the audience on a wild ride to the fiery underworld where Orpheous once visited and which to his luck, he was able to return from.

The Berzerk troupe will be joined by assorted circus friends who’ll be entertaining and delighting the early arriving crowd to the venue known once as the Cornfield. The organizers are inviting everyone to show up early with a picnic basket ‘a-la-Hollywood-Bowl’, (they forgot the Ford Amphitheatre) and partake of a beautiful day out with friends before heading inside the big top for the show.

What to expect?

I’ll let Suzanne Bernel, one of Berzerk’s founders answer that: “We’re thrilled to be making our full-length public debut in downtown Los Angeles,” said Bernel. “Having performed indie shows for a number of years downtown, it feels like home to most of our performers. We look forward to the beginning of a summertime tradition.”

As stated early, Cirque Berzerk owns their very own Circus tent (a product of hard work and lots of fundraising and penny pinching efforts according again to Bernel) and it’s under this big top that Underneath unfolds.

If I remember correctly it’ll be the same beautiful tent they took to Burning Man in years past. If that’s the case, you’ll be in for a trip back-in-time: a white, old-fashioned circus tent with rigged aerialist equipment inside, stacked corner sitting for the crowd. I can already smell the popcorn.

“Beneath” runs for four nights from July 24th through Sunday, July 27th with nightly performances beginning at 8:00 p.m.  Come early to enjoy picnicking “Hollywood Bowl” style before the show starting at 6:00 p.m.  The event will take place at the Los Angeles State Historic Park located at 1245 North Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90012. Tickets are available starting May 20th at www.cirqueberzerk.com and are priced between $35 and $60.

Alternate forms of transportation are encouraged.  The circus is offering a free clown bicycle valet and a 10 percent discount for those arriving via bicycle. Additionally, the discount will also apply for those showing a Metro pass or bus/rail ticket.  Metro is one of the event sponsors (www.metro.net).

Armed with a cast of 30 hardcore circus performers, Cirque Berzerk rises from the gray urban sprawl of Los Angeles like an army of color and glitter to dazzle spectators with an original urban-underground inspired performance. The show is loosely based on the story of Orpheus, taking the audience on a wild ride into the beckoning mythos of a fiery underworld filled with raunchy cabaret, punk-rock clowns, impossible contortion and astounding aerial acrobatics.

Cirque Berzerk has performed various vignette type of shows since 2005, ranging from private events at the Ritz Carlton Beverly Hills all the way to performing on the bill with popular alternative band The Killers for Carmen Elektra’s New Year’s Eve Bash on the Paramount Studios lot. The show on July 24th will mark the inaugural full-length performance.

Photo Credits:

Top & Bottom: Suzanne Bernel

Middle: Pixie Vision Productions