It’s not every day that you see an illusionist, fire-baton twirler and a fortune teller in the same room. But June 29, it was all about bringing classic vaudeville with a twist to downtown Gainesville.
The Manic Menagerie Vaudeville Company held its debut performance at The JAM. This musical project, which had a Cirque Nouveau theme, consisted of a variety of performances, such as tribal-fusion belly dancing, LED and fire poi spinning, hoop dancing, burlesque dancing and more.
“It’s really cool to see this all come together,” said Tyler Werenskjold, stage technician of the show. “This is a promotion not just for the show but for the performers.”
The evening started off with a faux, or fake, comedy show featuring John Gray and Dahlia Thomas. The pair played a married magician and assistant struggling with their magic act. Members of the audience cheered as the two bickered and delivered their punch lines.
“I like that it’s very organic and not too over rehearsed,” said Ashley Gilbert, 24, of the performance. “A lot of the reactions come straight from what we give them.”
The show continued with a “Mortal Kombat”-themed, LED poi spinning duet, featuring Logan Hamilton and Zachary Simmons. Imagine a pitch-dark room with only multi-colored weighted balls glowing and spinning in the dark. Upping the ante even more, Chris Ramirez joins the pair with his fire poi spinning.
To add to the electrifying performances was the Manic Orchestra — complete with drums, trumpets, guitars and other instruments. According to troupe manager Christian Greenwald, the combination of the live band with the performances was a harmonious collaboration that was completely fantasy oriented.
“I suspect many people gained greater expectations for nightlife production in Gainesville after our show,” Greenwald said. “The edgy dynamics, passion and effort put into the designs and set really electrified everyone's senses, and it was showing up in the way people enjoyed themselves.”
The second act of the show consisted of a musical performance with fan favorites, Kylie Jo Winkles and Wilson Stern. The two paired up for a jazz medley — Winkles with vocals and Stern on bass and acoustic guitar — consisting of classic songs such as “Fever” and “Summertime.” Next was hoop dancing with Indigo Sky and Becca Burton, as well as a fire-baton twirling solo and a comedic fortune-telling performance with Madame Mystique and the Manic Orchestra.
Closing the show was Tessa Marie, founder and art director of Manic Menagerie, with her burlesque dancing and singing. When she founded the show during her college years at Central Washington University, she saw how vaudeville was the form of entertainment for people before movies were invented.
So she pitched the idea to her friends, each having their own various talents, and held casting calls and auditions to create the 39-member troupe.
“I just really want people to be inspired by all the different performance arts out there,” Marie said. “None of us have ever done anything like this. The crowd was so awesome and supportive,” she said.
The company plans to produce themed shows every month at The JAM. Its next production is scheduled for July 26. It also plans to tour the state and larger cities, particularly at high-yield niche festivals.
For more information on how you can donate or become involved with the Manic Menagerie Vaudeville Company, check out its Facebook page or go to its website at www.mmvaudeville.com.
