Fire reigns supreme in 8 Bit Circus Sh*t. (Photo courtesy of Capital Fringe)
By DCist contributor Allie Goldstein
Reminds us of: Mortal Kombat for pyromaniacs, set at your local garden store.
Flop, Fine or Fringe-tastic: Fine.
You know a show is going to be interesting when a crew member is stationed strategically to “watch for body fires.” Performed at Old City Farm & Guild, a garden center with a mini amphitheater next to the skate park in Shaw, 8 Bit Circus Sh*t is pornography for pyromaniacs. Both acts are inspired by video games, the first a (literally) fired-up version of fighting games like Mortal Kombat, the second an homage to the 1999 Japanese horror game Silent Hill. The first act plays almost like a real-life video game, with audience applause determining which fighters face off. Each has a storied past described by the video console “Controller” Geoffrey Baskir, whose delivery could use a little more pep. But the fights themselves are a rush of adrenaline. Satori (Sam Stevens) is like an Edward Scissorshands of fire, Madam Ethereal (Dani Swidrack) swings a giant bat of flame, and Happy (Cole Turpie) rips away his Joker-like mask to better spin his fire stick. The fights are characterized by near-misses—some seem choreographed, others genuinely cringe-worthy—and implausible comebacks.
The second act takes on a more subdued tone. Like a real nightmare, creepy imagery gets more attention than the plotline, but neither will make much sense to those unfamiliar with Silent Hill. Still, the bloody trio of nurses and fuel-guzzling fire breathers are interesting enough to look at, and the “lost girl in the woods” motif adds some intrigue. A suspended hoop placed in the middle of the stage at the beginning of the act creates some anticipation for acrobatics, but the payoff is rather lackluster. Unlike the first, this act ends gently, without winners and losers. Even the hottest flame burns out eventually.
Where to See It: Old City Farm & Guild on July 14, 15, 21, and 22, all at 8:30 p.m. Buy tickets here.
See here for all of DCist’s 2017 Capital Fringe coverage. All shows are $17, with a button ($7) required for entry.
