R-rated horror show inspires shock and awe with gravity-defying, blood-soaked stunts

PORTAGE, MI — “Never interrupt the ritual.”

That’s the warning you receive upon entering the Paranormal Cirque III, a show by Cirque Italia, a premiere travelling circus in the U.S. with roots in the European circus scene, with an R-rated horror twist.

Advertisements promised to welcome you into “the darkest corner of your mind” and the ritual left no topic off limits. The show is designed for “mature” fans, according to the Cirque Italia website. Everyone under age 13 is prohibited and anyone under the age of 17 has to be accompanied by an adult 21 or older.

Guests were met with the sound of alarms blaring across the Crossroads Mall parking lot, 6650 S. Westnedge Ave, where the big top was positioned. Upon entering the tent, you were met with a decorative graveyard and blood soaked ushers to direct you to your seat. Some attendees came decked out in their best goth, monster and anarchy attire.

Em Kwekel came from Holland to see the horror and performance aspects of the show combined. So far, the show has been a big hit with previous performances on Thursday, Aug. 4 and Friday, Aug. 5 selling out.

“You want to set the vibe you want to feel,” Kwekel said ahead of the show. “These are the type of spaces that really create a safe space to do that kind of thing and support that kind of performance.”

A Wednesday Addams inspired character took the stage to inform audience members of the rules. A suitcase-touting ring-master followed and knocked on the massive wooden doors of the stage’s backdrop.

The goat-headed, fire-wielding, presumptive owner of the castle warned him to find three souls to sacrifice by the end of the night or his team of vampire performers would sacrifice him instead. The vampires and two of their devil-masked companions lit up the stage by throwing fire-covered knives and whips. At one point, they even slashed a blood-soaked copy of the Kalamazoo Gazette sports section.

Throughout the show, contortionists, jugglers, roller skaters and double-dutching nuns emerged to showcase their talents. Aerialists connected to free ropes demonstrated graceful high-flying moves you’d expect to see at Cirque De Soleil. Two men in a spinning metal contraption performed gravity-defying stunts.

The performances garnered awe and cheers from the audience while the ring master’s hijinks prompted belly laughs.

Natasha Proctor came to see the show from Holland for her birthday and recommended others attend for the freaky, freight-filled experience.

“You got some of what you think you may witness but it met the expectations and beyond,” Proctor said.

Roxana Midi, a double aerial performer and the ticket office manager, said Portage was an “amazing” crowd to perform for.

“We love it over here, people have a good vibe over us,” Midi said.

The show is no easy feat to travel with– many of the materials were shipped from Italy and it takes a lot of hard work to bring together, Midi said.

“Imagine that everything is starting from zero and you need all the elements to create something,” Midi said. “It’s the same thing, you start from the bottom and create something wonderful.”

The show is touring Michigan and will be in Portage through Sunday, Aug. 6. Tickets range from $20 to $60 and are available on the Paranormal Cirque website.

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