Someone once morbidly told me that funerals bring people together. Or maybe they were talking weddings, I don’t quite remember. Regardless, Immersive Art Collective’s CIRQUE DU SIQUE: A GRAVE AFFAIR (CIRQUE) shows that funerals can either bring people together or create drama that satisfies any craving left unfulfilled after this first round of holiday celebrations via a lovely blend of captivating performances and small-group interactions.
Immersive Art Collective (IAC) is quickly establishing themselves in the LA immersive community. While running two separate shows (Bite and CIRQUE), IAC holds workshops for at-risk youth and other outreach projects. IAC is a non-profit organization, and proceeds from shows are donated to local charities. IAC, operating out of The Count’s Den, also provides a space for local artists to create. Previous shows include BITE: Season’s Bleedings (check out our review here!) and a previous run of CIRQUE occurring back in September.
I really enjoyed CIRQUE. IAC creatively merged a performance-based show with an immersive one to create a satisfying overall production. CIRQUE was centered in a funeral home, mourning the death of Madame Malade, the head matriarch of the traveling circus, Cirque du Sique. CIRQUE featured various performances with burlesque influences and proved to be all-around delightful and enchanting in their own ways.
Following the initial round of entertainment, we were left to mingle with these various characters. By interacting with each individual, backstories and drives were pieced together like a puzzle. I only had time to interact with a few characters, but this contributed nicely to the replay-ability of the show. Some performers were stronger in improv than others, but I found each interaction engaging and unique. CIRQUE tied up the entire show with an ending that came out of left field. I could not have predicted the conclusion and it left me feeling quite satisfied.
Overall, CIRQUE proved to be quite pleasant. There was a brilliant mix of humor, dark elements, and sensual moments that contributed to an effective show. The format and pacing worked well with the material and helped to create an experience that flowed nicely.
CIRQUE DU SIQUE: A GRAVE AFFAIR runs every Sunday from November 28-December 19th with two timeslots: 7:00pm and 9:00pm.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit IAC’s website.
