The Freaks Came Out Last Night: An Evening with the All-Stars of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow
The Coney Island Sideshow All-Stars photo by: Leslie DJ
There’s a saying that goes, “the freaks come out at night” and on March 22nd the members of the Coney Island Sideshow gave new meaning to the phrase. The Coney Island sideshow performers paraded themselves onstage contorting, juggling and sword swallowing at the Highline Ballroom stage that night.
The Great Fredini can swallow photo by Leslie DJ
The Great Fredini, who’s known as the Human Blockhead and World’s Worst Magician, emceed the event. When he wasn’t making bad puns and sticking nails up his nostrils he was amazing and frightening the crowd with his sword swallowing abilities. But it was Zenobia the Bearded Lady who got the most laughs at last night’s event. She sauntered onto the stage in a blue sparkly number and faux fur shawl and took jabs at women who pluck, pluck all their hairs away. She sipped her Heineken in between jokes and then began to juggle knives.
While Eak the Geek made audience members squirm as they watched him lay on a bed of nails while grown men stood on his torso. After a couple of minute of torture the gentlemen were escorted offstage and Eak seemingly unharmed cracked a couple of jokes and then took a bow.
Miss Ekaterina photo by Leslie DJ
Miss Ekaterina the contortionist did a sassy little number and twisted herself up into numerous pretzel-like positions. Not to be outdone Bambi the Mermaid performed a heartfelt lobster dance and stripped down revealing her clam.
The best part of the performance was seeing the reaction of the crowd. The performers have seen and heard it all and don’t seem to be bothered by it. They even encouraged audience members to look them up online and sign up for training promising that you too could learn some of their tricks and learn to scare off naysayers.
For more on the Coney Island Sideshow School click here and be sure to catch the performers live in Coney Island beginning the day after Easter.
