Circus-cision: Trimming the Fat!
Veronica Charlemagne, she ran away to join the Circus (Kirsten Throndson)
PT Cruzer, he runs the Circus (Donovan Workun)
Vera Bixtash, the Bearded Lady (Vince Forcier)
Bruno Nicolas Adonidas, half horse and half man (Tom Edwards)
Lillian Leitzel, aerialist extreme (Stephanie Wolfe)
Clarl, a clown (Jason Hardwick)
Ne Pas Nible, the contortionist (Rebecca Bissonnette)
Natalia Buczyk, the fortune teller (Nikki Hulowski)
Buckaroo Dandy, star roping cowboy (Gordie Lucius)
Willem Broderick III, the stagehand (Breck Whiltshire)
Agnes, the tattooed lady (Kelly Turner)
Carnie Cruzer, twin brother of PT Cruzer (Peter Brown)
Burr Lee, The Strong Man (Katie Hudson)
Annabel the Great, who balances on elephants (Delia Barnett)
Archibald Reginald Charlemagne, brother of Veronica (Jason Hardwick)
Abraham, who can fix anything (Randy Brososky)
Daring Director: Jake Tkaczyk
Midway Melodies: Paul Morgan Donald
Tremendous Technicial: Nichole Man
Prime Producer: Nicole Thibault
Succinct Synopsis: Louise Mallory
ACT 1
Veronica is alone on stage, contemplating the murder she committed. She feels powerful, with this tool at her disposal to solve problems. Her brother, Archibald Reginald Charlemagne, arrives and is shocked. The Charlemagne way to solve problems is to throw money at them! She explains that she was talking about a philosophical murder, not a literal one. Archibald Reginald and their parents want Veronica home – the parents want the tax writeoff. Veronica demonstrates her talent at Plate. Vera Bixtash, strolling by, is overcome by Archibald’s hotness.
Carnie is onboarding Abraham, who can fix anything. Carnie has more than three problems that need fixing -he needs a lung and a nostril, PT lost the circus, their family has lost all their money, and he could use a more reliable dad too. Vera strolls by and is overcome by Abe’s hotness. Abe reassures Carnie that he can fix all Carnie’s problems, but there will be a price. Is Vera the price? More than that – Abe will need Carnie to give up his heart. In a heart stirring blues number, Carnie and Abe consent to this bargain.
Natalia offers to tell Vera’s fortune, though she is fearful. A card is hidden in Vera’s hat – the Page of Swords, meaning Vera has started a journey. Natalia accuses Vera of hiding Natalia’s sister in her room for over a year, and draws a gun on Vera. Vera draws a card.
Bruno is talking with Annabel the Great, the new artist. Bruno dances for her. She demonstrates her act (without an elephant as Elly is in transit). They practice together, until they trip and Bruno breaks a leg. Vera thinks this is hot too. Abraham can fix this, but of course there will be a cost. Annabel hides her eyes and Bruno drinks whiskey and bites down on a towel to prepare.
Veronica and Archibald are still arguing, silently. Veronica refuses to come home as the circus is her only family now. Carnie – now heartless – threatens Archibald. Archibald makes a non-apology. Carnie then chooses not to be heartless, unlike Archibald. Archibald hints at Veronica’s secret.
Meanwhile Natalia is still pointing a gun at Vera. If she’s going to die, she wants to die beautifully. Vera takes a card – the Hermit.
ACT 2
Bruno is coming to after Abraham’s intervention. He has lost his hindquarters, two legs, and a lot of blood. He asks Abraham how he can get them back. He can’t – Abraham owns his ass now. Annabel offers to help him learn to walk, and wonders if Bruno will get fired, now that he can’t do his act.
Carnie and Victoria bond over being circus family. If she is a favourite niece, does that make him a weird uncle? Veronica confides that she noted a cloud of negative energy emanating from Clarl, and when she saw him monologuing behind the tent she took matters (and his head) into her own hands. Abraham enters with a suitcase of money – enough for all Carnie’s needs, four hundred dollars, which he got by selling Bruno’s hindquarters. Even for four hundred dollars, Carnie refuses to relinquish his heart. Abraham leaves with the four hundred dollars. They wonder what he will do with it.
Natalia is still holding a gun on Vera. Her favourite game is Russian Roulette. Vera and Natalia see Archibald with his golden buttons, and they are aroused. Natalia empties some bullets from the gun to play Russian roulette, and aims at herself. Click – a blank. Now it’s Vera’s turn. She cunningly shifts her aim from herself to Natalia – but it’s another blank.
While Veronica is captivated by her spinning Plate, Annabel continues to help Bruno walk on his remaining legs. Annabel inquires delicately about what else he might be missing besides feet. He has no wee-wee, just a bum-bum. What sex will Bruno be? He is a biped. Vera continues to contemplate her Plate, and her stupid brother. Annabel tells Veronica her own secret, that she had never been to the circus and she hasn’t performed yet. Veronica suggests they can do a double act.
Carnie is reconsidering his decision not to sell his heart for $400. Abraham reveals his own backstory. He proposed on a highwire which caught fire – a familiar tale – and as his love plummeted, he offered his soul to save her. Thus, all highwire love is now cursed. Abraham must serve a long contract, extracting prices from others. And Abraham’s highwire love? She lived, but she didn’t know him. Carnie must make a choice.
The Russian Roulette game is progressing. Nobody is dead. That’s because Natalia took out all the bullets. She doesn’t need to seek hotness because she is hotness herself. Archibald advises Vera to give back Natalia’s sister. But is Vera the third sister? It’s not clear. Abraham enters, finger-guns drawn. Finger guns aren’t as predictable as ordinary guns. Abraham fires in the air. Vera collapses.
BLACKOUT.
Photos by the one and only Janna Hove
