After a pelting rain, I was riding a wet camel through the rolling dunes of the desert when it dawned on me, it was early morning, the evolution of Carnival of Psychos, the one-act with silhouettes and circus, had yet to be announced; which was ironic considering my primitive mode of transport and the only thing evolutionary around me was a discarded ATV tail pipe sticking out of the sand. That morning the desert was dead quiet except for, “Ghhhrrruuunh.” I could listen to camels bellow all day long. Especially if they’re bellowing: Come see Carnival of Psychos in San Francisco!
“How has Carnival of Psychos evolved?” you ask.
🔦 SILOUETTES
My original vision of shadow play and silhouettes for Carnival of Psychos will be fully realized in San Francisco. No cuts or edits. No coughs or misdirects. Rita Deiola from Italy is crafting and manipulating the missing pieces creating an unobstructed imaginative whole yet to be seen. The new level of visual insanity will be stunning.
🎡 CIRCUS
When I told the circus performers and stunt artists, Dizzy From Earlier and Reneé Sedliar, that we were wheeling Carnival of Psychos over to The Great Star Theater their eyes grew larger than paranormal floating orbs. A bigger stage and more rigging points open the tent door to more jaw dropping tricks and dumbfounding illusions.
🎹 MUSICIANS
This is more natural evolution vs. brewed-up-in-a-Fresno-trailer evolution. Lead tenor Alex Taite has been replaced by the towering Tey Thompson from the SF Opera. Electric organist Paul Dab has been replaced by Europe’s fast-fingered Cesar Cancino. And sexy saxophonist Jordon Dabney is being replaced by a mystery musician (the hunt continues). Why? Working with the Hiss makes people famous and they evolve right out of my grasp and pocket book.
“Is that even evolved?” you ask.
Driving home we stopped by a roadside carnival with a merry-go-round and petting zoo. A sign for camel milk caught my eye. There was large and small camels all shades of brown in pens and a medium sized white camel in a separate pen stretched out sleeping like a dancing swan with her head curled back over her body. The camel milk was delicious and the moment was otherworldly until someone asked to ride the white camel. Then the whole carnival erupted with sound. The white camel did not want to be ridden and bellowed something carnal and hair-raising for all to hear. People were frantic, little people were crying and being picked up by strangers, peacocks were fleeing. Call me crazy, but I swear I could hear the camel bellowing, “Come see Carnival of Psychos in San Francisco!”
Carnival of Psychos starts in 4 weeks and runs April 18, one night only, at The Great Star Theater in San Francisco in the heart of Chinatown. Tickets are on sale now. Stop bellowing about it and come out, you psychos.
See you at the show.
-Samson
