For its initial two years, Bayou Cirque for the most part has been a gathering of acts performing at celebrations, corporate occasions and downtown shows.
In one more week, in any case, it gets genuine.
At the point when Bayou Cirque’s “Dark Circus” makes that big appearance at the Manship Theater at 2 p.m. what’s more, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, it will be a turning point — an independent show to check whether the open is prepared for Baton Rouge’s sole bazaar troupe.
“It’s just going to be so different,” said David Gabel, Bayou Cirque founder and performer. “Exciting and terrifying.”
“Dark Circus,” obviously, is intended to be a greater amount of the previous than the last mentioned. It is loaded up with airborne acts, trapeze artistry, moving, shuffling and other visual exhibitions. It unites 29 nearby entertainers who have effectively engaged spectators exclusively and in little gatherings.
As the name suggests, Bayou Cirque owes a greater amount of its motivation to Cirque du Soleil than Ringling Brothers. There are no prepared creatures, few jokesters, and “Dark Circus” has a topic.
“Cirque du Soleil has changed and highly influenced the performance arts in many ways,” said John Scott, 29, a co-owner of GymFit and a performer on aerial straps and object manipulation. “They’ve taken the circus arts and really focusing on the theater aspects with what they’re trying to do with the story lines. It really has influenced how things are presented as a story rather than a variety show.”
The “Dark Circus” story is of a little youngster who looks behind the window ornament at a carnival and finds that the entertainers have been thrown into a spell by the vile ringmaster, played by John Vukovich, and he begins attempting to free them.
The story is told through bazaar acts that are conventional and cutting edge. In the last classification are Scott and his electronic poi — stick-molded actualizes that, when swung and waved, utilize light and pixels to paint pictures noticeable all around.
A carnival jumping up in Red Stick appears to be astounding. In any case, the crude material that can make a bazaar was near. It simply required a catalyst.
It came when Gabel, Scott, Erik Otts, Stephanie Lee, Josh Roberts and Erin Warner opened GymFit, a wellness office that incorporates classes in aerials and aerobatic exhibition. When individuals took in those abilities, it was characteristic that they’d want an outlet for them, Gabel said.
“What really kicked us in the pants to make it happen faster than we originally counted on was a mom came here for her son to do parkour classes, and she watched us practicing and teach,” Gabel said. “She said, ‘Would y’all do a performance?’ ”
What she had at the top of the priority list was the 10/31 Consortium Halloween Ball in 2017. With about a month and a half to get ready, Gabel discovered enough entertainers for eight schedules. March Cirque was conceived.
None of Bayou Cirque’s entertainers have performed expertly in a carnival, however arrange director Nicole Fearnbach and rigger Matt Viverito have, and their ability has been significant, Gabel said. Numerous entertainers joined through GymFit or other aeronautical exercise centers.
They are understudies, servers, craftsmen and, on account of Madison Cashio, 27, a mother hoping to get once more into shape in the wake of having a child three years back. Regardless of a dread of statures, Cashio chose to try aerials out and found she was a whiz.
“I figure if I grab that, I would probably not let go because I’m too scared to fall,” she said. “I took a shot, I grabbed it and started playing around with it.”
Monet Ohlerking, 17, who does ethereal silks, aeronautical lashes and lace moving alongside her twin sister, Monroe, got snared on performing at a “Live After Five” show a half year back.
“When I got off the stage the first time and everyone was clapping and cheering, that was one of my happiest moments ever,” she said. “I was, like, this is what I want to do. I want to make people happy and amazed and shocked. I love that.”