R.I.P. Circus Contraption

This coming weekend marks the sad passing of the amazing conglomeration of outre humanity known as Circus Contraption. I got to know the troupe during their runs at Theater for the New City, when I was development director there. Later, members of the company generously put me up when I went out to their town Seattle to  perform and lecture at the Moisture Festival.

I think of them less as a circus than a circus-inflected, decadent avant-garde cabaret of the pre-WWII continental European type — all accordion-driven, with leering, sinister clowns and such. They’re splitting into their constituent parts now, and will be missed. They’re having a big blow out party in Seattle this weekend. Wish I could be there!