Los Angeles State Historic Park (Los Angeles, CA)
Cirque Berzerk combines aerial acrobatics, clowning, and other traditional circus performances with punk rock and burlesque influences. Their psychedelic, psychotic, and distinctly adult performances have made them a hit; they return to the Los Angeles State Historical Park.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Cirque Berzerk was Sunday August 9, 2009 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
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Cirque du Soleil presents its hit touring show, KOOZA, the story of an innocent who enters a world of kings, thieves and other archetypal characters. KOOZA is a return to Cirque du Soleil's roots, combining classic circus acrobatics and broad slapstick clowning. Learn More
The Good:
Overall the show was entertaining. The live band and singing was dynamic. Pretty much a good seat no matter where you sit.
The Bad:
Don't wear pretty shoes for this event...since parking is on the dirt and walking through the grassy areas...there were many uneven parts..so high heels...um no!
There were some parts that were really slow...sometimes the music was a bit too loud.
The will call is super long...not very efficient...so arrive early for your tickets.
Not your normal circus. Definitely suggest this to anyone who enjoys acrobats, contortonists, gymnasts, dancers, etc... Very wildly entertaining. Every seat in the house is a great view. We sat near the top about 5 rows from the ceiling and we had a fantastic view of the entire stage. I enjoyed this show immensely. Great music that is their own btw, soundtrack available for purchase. Great dancers, just as good as a cirque du soleil show in Las Vegas.
I loved the show.
My favorite act was a very sexy acrobatic number performed by a couple- the sailor & his beloved.
I went to see Cirque Berzerk last year, and saw some of the shows they did before that when they were just starting out. I am really impressed with where they have taken the show. It has gone from something very small to something that is in the same league as Cirque du Soleil. Cirque Berzerk has it's own distinct character and vibe that is all it's own. What a huge achievement, and in so little time!
The live music is wonderful, and is mixed live as well. The staging was excellent, and the overarching storyline was tight and well executed.
I highly recommend that you see this fabulous show!
Great acrobatics and a very enjoyable show! The guys on the trampoline were my favorite: Amazing skill! But the entire show was worth it. AND MY SEAT WAS VERY NICE!!!
My only BIG NOTE… I enjoy taking the subway whenever possible, and walking from anywhere south of the event is a major pain.
The gates are locked at night so you have to walk WAY north to get in, unless you jump the fence (and I saw some very mature ladies I can’t imagine jumping that fence, unaware, walking toward the vortex of the fence jumping zone). But if you pay the 10 bucks or whatever they charge for parking then that is not a problem.
But beware if you don’t drive, or park for free. There was an open gate at the most south end of the park, but I did not see that gate until I had walked miles/well a long way anyway… and it is not only easy to miss, but I suspect there are no guarantees it is unlocked at all times.
I read almost all the reviews before going so I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did because I'm a tough critic but I loved it. My husband and I had such a great time. We're going back again with our teenage children.
The carnival/bar/live music pre-show was the best part. also the ambiance was very fitting and eerie and did a great job transforming you into another place.
there are no bad seats in the tent, its pretty small in there.
the talent during the actual show felt very amateur. I dont see how anyone can ever compare this to cirque de soliel! it felt like a group of people from burning man doing bad choreography.
the highlight were these two male acrobats, they were amazing. but otherwise, it was pretty silly.
we left at intermission.
I really enjoyed this event. It was a sort of shocker, I didnt expect it to be as good as it was. Very talented people. I recommend this to anyone. All the staff was very nice and helpful. Also nice was they had a bar... hehe!
My friends and I decided that this would be a good event/venue to get together and celebrate a friend's birthday. We were right! The preshow and band outside the main tent were great...plus free pinball.
One thing that made the preshow so great was the fact that guests are allowed to bring their own picnic to the park. The alcohol policy was unclear (and we didn't ask) but I noticed that a few groups had bottles of wine on their tables. My group opted to brown-bag it.
One other good thing to know is that if you purchase a drink or a beer outside before the show starts, you are totally allowed to bring it into the main tent. There's no need to pound anything while you stand in line.
As far as the show goes, I must admit that I was impressed. General feelings in my group hovered around "amature"...which sure, it is....but still, the performers were so phenomenal that to say "amature" without yourself being able to balance on one hand while folding your legs over your head seems pretty snobby.
Wardrobe was fantastic, choreography was tight, and the acts were interesting. My only criticism would be that the story-line that they tried to construct seemed like an afterthought. They should have either made it a more prevalent part of the production, or have done without it entirely.
Our seats were great. The $60 section is all you need - the $80 section isn't really much better except that everyone gets their own folding chair instead of having to sit on a shared bench.
I'm so glad they extended it through the summer. I think I may go again before they close.
The event was indeed entertaining, great soundtrack and some imaginative sets, very atmospheric at times. The band was a nice touch in the drinking pavilion, something that should be actively marketed or what we missed somewhere in the event description. Don’t keep the audience in the dark about such things.
Two disappointments with the event. We couldn’t hear the ringmaster and all that he had to say…yet the music came through quite well including the live band and singers. In addition, when you tell someone that an event starts at 10:00 PM and in reality it starts at 10.30ish, the professionalism is right out the door.
A party atmosphere, bring your earplugs. The sound design goes to eleven. Distortion of words and lyrics are truly unnecessary--come on guys! You can have power with out the mega watts.
Interesting show-Pre war Berlin meets Tim Burton. I wouldn't recommend it to friends but I am glad I went.
If you are feeling adventurous there is plenty of street parking outside the venue, avoid the fee.
This was a great event. Different from anything in L.A. that I've attended. Even the beer was a reasonable price. My boyfriend had a good time and he doesnt like anything. I think the price we paid for the tickets through Goldstar was fair. I wouldn't have paid over 40.00 for this event. We got to sit in the front row because it was not a packed house! That was awesome.
Even with Goldstar discount, this event is a bit too pricey.
But the show was great, and I don't regret spending the money. I just wish it was more reasonably priced.
Acrobatics were amazing! And sexy. Band in the second tent was pretty amazing as well (18 piece!), and certainly added to the event (be sure to check em out during intermission and afterwards). Although it still is a bit pricey. Parking is $10.
I had a great time. The show was lots of fun and the performers were awesome! The events home page encouraged patrons to dress up and anything I can make an outfit for I’m so there! Sadly only one other person made the effort. I did go to the early show on Saturday, but did see more people come in creative outfits for the late show. Everything about the show was great, the performers (I would say top grade, just as good if not better then its mainstream Cirque counter part), the acts, the music, the singers, the bar and live band after the show in the outside area.
The bad things about the event… only Port-O-Potties (but that was expected), the seats in the tent made your butt fall asleep half ways through each act. And the gold star seats kind of sucked, though there were even suckier seats. The stage was round and the seats went around the stage, but most of the acts (specially the burlesque act) were geared towards the center audience and I felt I missed out on how good the show really was. I would defiantly go again, but most likely I will pay full price for the tickets to get better seats. Oh and I would wear comfy shoes cause if you don’t want to pay the $10 for parking then you have a little of a walk around the park to get to it, and its all on a dirt track then hay covered ground and my shoes did get dirty.
Very fun night at Cirque Berzerk! Arrive early to get the best seats from Will Call. We arrived at 6:45 pm for the 8pm showing and received front row tickets as well as the couple in line before us and the couple in line behind us.
Great talent, music, atmosphere! I did feel that the ending/finale was a bit rushed as far as the storyline goes, but the performances were great! I will definitely attend again next year and can't wait to see how this performance progresses!
I was very glad I wore tall boots to this event because it is very dirty and dusty! I recommend bringing cash for drinks ($5-11 each) , food, clothing vendors, and parking ($10).
This was a watered-down version of Cirque de Soliel...except it has a sexy, evil and dark twist to it. Kudos to the aerial performers....which climaxed with two handsome young performers giving each other a deep passionate kiss.
AMAZING OVER THE TOP!!!
Great band before the show and at intermission, get there early to enjoy.
see photo from band Vaud and the Villians
Worthwhile. Not Cirque Du Soleil or Circus Oz or Golden Dragons but a touch of many. The show displays its Burning Man roots with a strong counter culture merry prankster sensibility. There is mainly acrobatics and movement in this show. Modest aerial, no juggling, no magic, plenty of good clowning. Hardly anything daring or dangerous for skilled performers. And there are some very artful pieces generally involving pairs and unlike any of the troops named above. But what really keeps it going is MUSIC. This show sounds great. That plus constant movement and pulse make for a good spectacle. In short it is really more an entertainment and performance with a story line than Circus.
A few things to note. The group in the outer area the Vaud Villains is brilliant. A 20s style band better than any 20s style band you may have seen or heard on record. Absolutely worth catching (which you can) even if you skip the circus.
Also, while Goldstar is reasonable many nights you can get the 25 dollar seats and likely sit anywhere you please.
Finally ...no need to pay for parking if you avoid being hustled onto the pay lot.
It was great!!! You'll have a ways to walk in dirt and hay so beware. Very artsy and sometimes moving.
What an unexpected delight. I had never seen anything advertised for this before and enjoyed it very much. Maybe just the first night jitters but the staff was pretty unorganized, with almost an hour late show start.
Overall it was awesome. There were some really slow times. The entire first scene and that scene with the small person, goofy guy dragging the large male doll could have been eliminated completely.
Loved the music...
arrive early and stay late...great bar scene
This was very disappointing. Dont get me wrong, the costumes were great, the setup was great, and outside of the performance the performers were always in character. However, we had to wait over an hour from the time they told us the show would start before we even got into the theater. then we waited another 30 min before the show started...I'm all for fashionably late, but this was crazy! After that, I was hoping for a wonderful show, but they seemed very reserved. The tricks and talent were good, but nothing to ooh and ahh over. It was just a circus with awesome costumes - it seemed like the performers were being held back, like they had the potential for more interesting acts but were not adding them into the show.
Not as bawdy or erotic as we thought, but the show's acrobats were incredible. Music was good but too loud and the vocals were inaudible at points. Every seat is good but Sections 1 and 2 are best. Get there about 7pm to secure best seats and park on the street and climb the short fence to eliminate a long trek through dirt. A picnic in the park facing the skyline is a real treat - you can even grab sandwiches from Phillipe's and enjoy it there. Take the Metro to Chinatown and you'll have about a 1/2mile trek to the event. I would definitely make this an annual event, it was very fun and worth the $43 per ticket.
I want to see it again!!! it was amazing =)
Jawdroppingly Sexy! My friend said it made her want to go home and stretch! LOVED IT. Not a bad seat in the house :) Make sure to arrive early for drinks, photo taking and even a picnic :) GO!
Great show, a must see.
I am glad I read the reviews,it does get dusty! I went on a less busy night, but I can see how much fun the party could be. Dressing up, intermission with drinks and a lit'l shopping on the side! I hope they bring the show to Dallas,TX. The music was a bit loud in the tent and I meant to but the CD, but forgot;(
I loved it! Seen it twice. I loved the story, costumes, and the act. Awsome band outside fun place to be with friends enjoying a good show, music, and have some drinks.
Big top was a hit! My friends came here for my boyfriends dirty 30 and decided to have a mustache and top hat party and we didn't feel weird wearing it at a circus! The show was interesting and they had daring stunts. just lovely!
its a party before the show, during the show, and after the show!
We had a small picnic before the show, there are also food and drinks available there.
For those who wants to bring liquor: just hide it. haha
overall: a dammm good show.
***ladies don't wear heels, flip flops, sandals... its pretty much dirt everywhere. unless u don't mind ur feet gettin' dirty! ***
Figure this: Zumanity crossed with Cabaret. If the stage was cleaner, set was sharper, musicians were on it, we would have another Cirque du Soleil. So KUDO to this troop for entertaining the heck out of the crowd! The girls were cute, the men were hot, and the guys kissing were the bomb! Next time this event returns to LA, look for it to be sharper and bigger, as the last time it was here it was in a smaller tent. There is some food, interesting clothing and jewelry for sale, and the outside tented bar and music for pre/intermission were the best. Don't were good shoes, and dress like you were heading to Miss Kitty's Parlour (www.misskittysparlour.com)
Josh
I'd read a few comments here saying the event was "unprofessional," so I was prepared to see some glitches or hiccups, but the talent was really on par with some of the best cirque I've ever seen. No glitches, no hiccups, just smooth sailing as the circus unfolded with act after act of impressive physicality and joy. Was it dark? Yeah, but I love those quirky, slightly-off things. It was funny and sweet and soulful. The Goldstar seats were great. Thanks!
I wasn't sure what to expect of this, except what I'd seen on the Cirque's own website. The concept is interesting: it's like a goth circus, with a touch of Tim Burton. The music is mostly live (the band stands above the entrance to the circus ring), and is interesting, if sometimes a bit shrill sounding (esp. at the intermission). The arena outside the tent is fun, with drinks, music, roaring fire, and a "party" feel going on. The show itself wasn't amazing as I'd expected. You can tell some things need working out, some parts were redundant, but some of the burlesque-style dancing was fun. Overall, I'd just say the experience was okay. The staff, however, were wonderfully helpful and friendly.
Also, as an FYI, the tent is quite stuffy and warm.
Magic & music & mayhem will have you squealing & dancing & smiling on the edge of your seat! Perfectly set in the long shadow of the LA skyline. I've gone twice and want to go again. And again. And again. YOU GO, too!
Fantastic night out! Dancing and acrobatics were amazing and the story played out well throughout. Agree with previous tips to wear comfy shoes you don't mind getting dusty.
Halftime band "Vaud and the Villains" were a perfect fit for this event. Acoustics in the tent could be a bit better -- sometimes hard to understand what the vocals were.
Loved it- Cirque de Soleil crossed with Tim Burton and Rob Zombie, such good fun.
My friend and I loved this show! It was darkly cool with great music, sensual and stylized circus acts, amazing dancing and performers. Its Cirque meets Beetlejuice meets burlesque. We were even blown away by the incredible band in the bar tent during intermission, the Mad Marionettes. Definitely recommend this for those looking for a unique event. As one attendee did note, you will be parking on dirt and walking in it around the bigtop so don't dress up. Actually dress in casual black and you will look like one of the dead and fit right in!
Cirque Berzerk was an awesome experience!
First, I loved that I could get 1/2 price tickets through Goldstar (as 1/2 price is always better than full-price.) I sat in the green section, and although I didn't know which seats would be ours until we got there, they were pretty good (Section 8 Row D Seats 13 & 14.) There wasn't anything I couldn't see, and only a couple of things were aimed directly at the center of the audience. I think that they did a pretty good job at playing to the entire audience. The Big Top is much smaller than the seating chart makes it look, so I think that any seat would be a good seat, with the exception of maybe sections 11 & 12, but those are only $25, and I guess you get what you pay for. (Note: It looks like they have blacked-out the seats in these sections that are right against the wall where the performers enter & exit. This should address the problem, since from those seats it would be very difficult to see the band that performs on top of the Curtain/Backstage area.)
The show was a little different then I thought it would be, but I loved it. The first part was mostly story set-up, but had my favorite act: (I think it was called Dig it Down) which was 4 guys on a trampoline (beautifully choreographed. The second half was filled with many more cirque acts, such as aerialists, trapeze, a cool black & white dance number and the amazing, fantastic fire finale!
In addition to what went on inside the Big Top...they had a little village of sorts set up outside (this might be fun to check-out even on a night that you don't have tickets to the cirque itself. There were 2 fire contraptions that shot out huge flames. One was accompanied by an eyeball with batwings and the flame device was a guitar that a creepy guy came out and played. You could feel the heat from across the field! There are a couple of booths nearby selling hot dogs, mexican food & giant bags of kettle corn; or you can picnic in the park before the show. There was also a beer garden tent/fenced area with a full-bar, about 8-10 booths selling clothing, jewelry, etc. that fit the theme of Cirque Berzerk & a photo booth where you can purchase a commemorative picture. Vaud & The Villains played in the beer garden, so it was loads of fun!
The stuff going on outside the Big Top, combined with the stuff going on inside the Big Top makes this a must-see event (but I wish I could have brought my camera inside the Big Top, even if I couldn't use a flash,)
Don't miss it!
if i could give it more stars, i would!
this event was spectacular!! i loved the lowbrow tents and the vending booths outside. The antique FULL bar and free pinball machines set up under a huge open side bigtop totally enhanced the experience.
Vaud and the Villians were a spectular sight to be seen during intermission and the demented axman on stills stumbling around before the show and bopping the tupperware potties with his ax was straight of a fantastic nightmare.
The show itself was phenomenal!!
The performers were top, something i would have totally spent the full admission price to experience. The music was great, the costumes were very creative and the dance pieces were well choreographed.
All in all, i had a spectacular time - it was like falling through a dark looking glass and waltzing with Malice.
All seats were great seats with perfect views of the stage. The few acts performed on the floor were done on those rotating circular parts of the stage so they could be equally enjoyed by all.
I will most definitely keep an eye out for the bigtop next year. I will be back.
Oh....and there were no problems with will call lines. we bounced right up, got our tickets in a matter of moments and set up shop near the bar =)
i'd recommend bringing kleenex, it gets awfully dusty =/
The show was great! After finding out the location, I was prepared with the event being in a dirt field, which I was ok with. The atmosphere was great. Just like an a old time circus rolling into some small town out in the country.
I attended the event with my boyfriend and he had never been to any type of cirdus as a kid, nor Cirque du Soliel, so this was special for me to take him to this kind of event. We also packed a picnic dinner and arrive around 1.5 hr before the show. We definitely had a great time eating and drinking before the show.
The seating location in the tent was great, but the benches are a bit butt-numbing. As expected, round circus seating with a round stage.
The band during the intermission and after the show definitely added points on the rating scale.
All the performers were great!
I had such a fabulous time. I loved the Venue. It really set the stage for the night ahead. The band in the tent/bar outside the main tent was absolutely fabulous. Inside the main tent, once the show began I was completely hooked. I loved it! Such a great way to spend a night and get away from the real world for awhile.
I think they could have done so much more with the whole event. What they did do was enjoyable though. Only at the goldstar price. if I had paid full price I would have been really disapointed.
The show was very intimate and beautiful. So many talented people. Loved it.
Great performances and really fun atmosphere. Stay for the band afterward. They're great.
Wonderful atmosphere created at the Cirque Berzerk grounds. The band (The Villains) that played before and after the performance was AMAZING. Very cool bar area with pinballs and the stage for the Villains.
The beginning set the mood for the "Berzerk" performances that followed. I loved the strangely odd live music and vocal performances that were a constant throughout the show.
It was not as dark or gothic as I imagined. The acrobats had an incredible brute strength and flexibility. Beautifully creative overall.
Cirque Berzerk was great. I highly recommend as one of the great things to do in LA - cooler than Hollywood, cooler than Melrose, cooler than Silverlake, even. I've been to many of the Cirque du Soleil shows and I hate when people compare other shows to those, but if it's all you know, then what can you do?
So I'll try not to compare to Cirque du Soleil, because these are very different shows with different ideas and backgrounds. Berzerk in a park in the middle of downtown LA is awesome. Now just picture it, you're walking along the side of the road, with the Downtown skyline behind you and a giant tent in front of you. There's a word for this, but I can't think of it right now. Before the show they recommend a picnic in the park (I'd get there an hour or so before the show to enjoy the pre-party). LA traffic sucks, so it's hard to get there early. But if you can, I recommend it. Berzerk also sells food so bring cash to enjoy sweet potatoes, mexican burritos, popcorn and the like.
We brought wine, but left it in the car as we were running late. Then to our surprise, there was a "21+" area with adult beverages, antique pinball machines, live music, clowns, adult boutiques and an ATM machine in the hay. You bet we made time for that. (Bring your ID - they have tight security in this area).
For me, the atmosphere at any event is very important, and this pre-show environment was cool. They also had some of the characters running around, a few different interesting photo opportunities and some flame-spewing machine that would go off every so often to remind you it was there.
Crowd? Attendees? Most took the advice to go with some fun apparel - lots of corsettes (I partook in that and felt right at home). Lots of ladies in heels were doing the wobble-dance as their heels sank into the dirt and hay. Mine did, but I didn't care. There were hippies, hipsters, grunge-types, fashionistas, preppies - all sorts came to the show as it appeals all sorts of people. I liked the mixed crowd; no one looked out of place.
The show itself: I thought the first half was not as great as the second - a little slow to get going, but they were building the atmosphere, so I understood the motive. I just thought it could have happened faster & included another act instead of a slow intro. The first half got like a 6/10 and the second half got like a 8/10, in my opinion. There are about a dozen different acts throughout the whole show; each had really great parts, so overall this is my rating. But, knowing this, I'd still go again just for the atmosphere and the chance to see a new take on "circus" - no elephants or peanuts, here guys. Just the nuts.
Oh, there was an after-party that looked like a continuation of the pre-party in the adult area. I would have gone, but had work in the morning.
I highly highly recommend the show to anyone, no matter how much you like dance or shows or whatnot. It's eye-opening.
I have to say, this was a BIG let down. I am just glad that I did not pay for the $80 seats but we weren't that far off at $60. =( (we got to sit anywhere we wanted when they barely filled a quarter of the tent @ the 7pm show)
Saw the website from a friend, looked very cool and very intriguing. Bought tickets right away. With all the hype on the website, how could anyone not think that it was going to be anything better than great?!
To be frank about it, to me it felt like all the 2nd rate rejects from Circus de Soleil found their way here. Get enough of them, put together a really bad "storyline" and you have a bunch of sub-par acts that have no "wow" factor. (Well, the only one that came close were the four guys and the trampoline but that one got old after 7 mins.)
I actually feel asleep for a good 5 mins as I went into a trance state from all the bad "singing" on stage. It was really screaming followed by a lot of pounding of strange metals.
If you are running late, no worries. The first 20 mins is just worthless. Woman in red who runs around looking for a way out of her miserable life, falls into a hole and then begins all the bad acts.
Towards the end, the a gang of masked dancers give it a go on stage for 10 mins or so. Again, done very bad. Had so much potential. Dancers aren't even unison the whole dance and they never really do anything worthy.
The coolest thing at this event are the fire sign at the entrance and an even larger fire shooter towards the portal pottys.
I really wish that the show blew my mind away but it did just the exact opposite. Seemed like half the people loved it but I can tell you that either they were drunk or they have never seen a person do a flip.
Ow, ow, ow. My expectations were obviously too high. From the promotion I believed these were likely Burning Man people. Good thing I only paid half price because I left at intermission believing that they were, instead, probably Venice Beach people. Totally void of any discernable continuity. Below amateur staging and absolutely the worst sound I have ever heard in any venue. The tent was less than half full so I hope they still have their day jobs.
Was a really great experience! Definitely did not know what to expect! But I made the mistake of wearing heels in hay and dirt....fun...not so much. I even have a heavy aversion to clowns but after 15 mins I got into it. It was cool...definitely recommend this to anyone!
The only bad part was the fact that Will Call is completely disorganized. And when you buy your tickets they do not tell you that SEATS ARE ASSIGNED......it just gave a section color. So beware! If you want to sit with your friends, buy your tickets together! Otherwise, who knows which scary clown will come and scare you silly in your seat.....
Best show in LA ever!!! We had the greatest time in the show and also a blast after the show with the band. We bought food there, but we could have easily brought a picnic and ate it in the park next door.
See this show while you can.
This was an iconoclatis evening of cirucss macabre. I would recommended it to anyone who has a sense of daring and adventure and likes to live outside the box. Noi need to pay $10 for parking when you can part sout of the teent in the LA Park. Only bring kids under 15 if they are grounded and open to the vaguaries of life
I really enjoyed Cirque Berzerk. The entire experience was fun including the great band outside (Vaud and the Villains) to the incredible show inside. Plus the price on Goldstar is unbeatable.
It was not worth the price of the ticket I would not got again
The show was great! All of the performances were beautiful. The music made you want to get up and dance.
It's not Cirque Du Soleil, so don't even try to compare it with that show. Its more smaller in scale and production. That being said, it is overall an entertaining show. Some of the acrobatic scenes were just jaw dropping.
It was great! good view from any seat.
Fantastic acrobatics! Especially on the trampoline.
Though similar to Cirque du Soleil, CB had a bit of an edge to it that we really enjoyed. Certainly plenty of exciting acts and a festive atmosphere will keep even those with ADHD fully occupied. Minuses - a bit too loud but that could have been our proximity to a speaker, long drink lines, and the second half didn't quite measure up to the spectacular first act. Overall, we had a great experience and tons of fun.
this show is great! also ladies not a good idea to wear heels....
LOVED IT, I PLAN ON SEEING THE PERFORMANCE AGAIN WITH A DIFFERENT GROUP OF FRIENDS. I ALSO HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE. I AGREE THE BAND WAS JAMMING.
The show was sublime. All the words I had read to describe it were right on. I felt like I was watching somthing very old fashioned and very modern at the same time.
The performers were gorgeous to watch and the singers gave me shivers.
I am so glad I saw this and am considering volunteering to usher or work a booth so I can just hang around and be part of it!
This is a great event. We dressed up in our top hats and black lace and had a blast! Picnic'd before the show and had beers during the show. We also had our pictures taken by their photographer... which was hilarious! And the show itself was fantastic... really good dancers and acrobats... sexy and dark. Loved it!
Was really blown away by the production quality, as well as the talented performers. What they occasionally lacked in pitch perfect timing (and that wasn't often), the troupe more than made up in their artistry and understanding of the themes. A frolic through vaudevillian tropes, but delivered in a way that didn't seem tired, and definitely didn't come off cheesy like so many neo-vaudeville/burlesque shows do.
Wish it was a bit less expensive so more folks could experience it. A $25 ticket would allow more potential fans of all ages to see it--and ensure the place was packed: on the night we attended, the tent was scarcely half filled, which was unfortunate.
Great evening with the backdrop of downtown L.A.
I HIGHLY recommend going to see this performance, it was AMAZING!!
Pretty good acrobatics. Lighting and sound inside the tent were a bit off. Second act was a little slow.
The show was unique, which was a great experience. Some of the skits ran a little long, however, there were some incredible feats to be seen. The ticket prices were a bit steep for the quality of the show, even with Goldstar discounts.
The outside vendors and set-up were accommodating and appropriate for the Big Top atmosphere. Loved dressing up for the photo opportunity (Oh Snap!).
A must see! Not your typical circus, more like performance art. This is what Cirque du Soleil must have been at its inception - clean, simple, unique, fresh... a truly entertaining and unforgettable experience. Loved the "carny" atmosphere combined with a show worthy of a Vegas stage.
Highly entertaining, great music and acrobatics, terrific ambiance and what a bargain price! Even the intermission entertainment outside the main tent was first rate, so make sure you step outside for twenty minutes during half-time. Drinks were very reasonable compared to most events, bars & clubs in LA, and you can take your food and beverage into the tent for the show.
We had made a second separate reservation for friends and sent an email requesting our seats be grouped together. We packed a picnic and arrived just as will-call opened. The line was short and our request was honored with great seats.
Other benefits of arriving early:
Free street parking outside the lot
Choice of picnic tables inside the 21-and-over section
Lots of casual/sexy attire (corsets & fishnet stockings for the ladies) so don't be shy - dress like you're part of the show!
This was an amazing show filled with incredibly talented performers and it had a great energy. Lots of the people in the audience dressed up in wild garb and it made for fantastic people watching and if I go again, I'll dress up.....it's sort of like going to a Rocky Horror ... A must see
Excellent show and performers. The only negative was that the sound was loud and hard to understand the narrative to the story.
If you've ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show, you probably won't be that impressed with this show. No doubt there are definitely talented people that make up the acts in C.B. and there a moments of ooh and ahh, but overall I think they're over charging at $60-$80 a head. The music is dis anent and the singers grate on your nerves after the first act. It's basically a knock off version of Cirque du Soleil and not nearly as dark and edgy as I'd hoped it would be. However, since Goldstar offers tickets at half price, they've made it worth it...the show doesn't disappoint at that price. If you can spring for the $35 and are lookin' to just be entertained for the evening this is a nice choice.
Loved this show! It was my first "circus" ever, and I was very excited to be going. We were 2nd row to ringside, but it didn't look like there was a bad seat in the house! I'm glad that the show was extended so that I can take more people. The acts were amazing!
The drinks at the bar were pretty big (bar was a smaller tent, where a band also played before, after, and during intermission, which was pretty fun), and typical bar prices. There weren't as many vendors as I had hoped for, but the vendors who had costume items had some really nice stuff.
One thing to note is that it is at a park with lots of hay and dust, so dress cute, take your favorite allergy med, and wear comfy shoes!
I have to say that I didn't find it either edgy or modern. The style they used--A Rocky Horror Picture Show look--has been done (and overdone) for a few decades. The skill level of the aerialists and acrobats was great, so that doesn't disappoint. The best part for me was one where the acrobats jumped over a wall. Overall, it was entertaining, but not mind-blowing. If I hadn't paid the Goldstar price I would have been frustrated.
Great vibe, fun, different. Performers were excellent. Try to sit in front of circlular stage (opposite band), as several of the performances were meant to be viewed from specific angle.
A cool, fun, different twist on Cirque du Soleil. It's very goth, sort of a Cirque-in-hell scenario. It was fun, sexy, and different. Can't ask for much more.
Go during the evening as it's cooler inside at night.
You can't take pictures during the show.
The music was great and really complimented the show.
It didn't feel very long and I wished it was longer.
we arrived an hour before showtime and enjoyed the smaller of the two tents with live music, drinks and old school pin ball games! along with the vendors selling food to burlisque type goods the hour came and went too quickly.
once inside the show was very well done and i really dont think any seat is a bad seat. the circular structure was great and the rotating innerstage was awesome! we enjoyed the show and recommend everyone go and see LA's OWN "cirque" show. CIRQUE BERZERK. get there early and enjoy the smaller tent! and then after the show go back to the smaller tent! :)
I was absolutely blown away by the artistry and pageantry on display; it definitely was everything it was billed to be.
I loved the aerial choreography, as well as the comedic timing of the trampoline artists. I wasn't too crazy about the opening numbers; they were too dark for my taste. The girlfriend I took to the show absolutely loved the two male acrobats, and I'll have to admit I had a bit of difficulty breathing while watching them perform!
I had the opportunity to dine at Philippe's prior to the performance, and there is food available at the circus site as well. Parking at the event is $10, and they really mean it when they say it's 5 miles per hour when driving through the parking site! And if you like vintage arcade games, there's pinball machines set up in the Berzerk Lounge, and play is free. Also in the Lounge you can take in the song stylings of Vaud and the Villains. This group is truly making their mark in the LA music scene!
It was amazing!!!
One of the greatest shows I've been to. Exciting. Beautiful. Inspiring.
This event was awesome. The aerial acts were amazing!
This was a fun under big tent experience. The only thing I would say is they needed to push the bizarre more. Otherwise I loved it.
Can't wait for them to come back. It was inspiring and truly a great show.
This was super fun. The seats were great. My friend was chosen as "audience participation" and was part of the show. I suggest getting there early and enjoying the food and drinks.
I thought that this show was just fantastic. It wasn't short of Cirque Du Soleil at all! We got really good seats for half the price. There was a ton of acrobatic stuff much like Cirque and the story line behind the whole show was incredible. The dance numbers and tracks chosen for each of the acts matched really well. Everyone who performed on the show has a lot of talent. A true must see.
very stylish and impressive acrobatics along with an interesting plot line to the show. ONly critique really, the sound on the main character (the main demon I should say) was not really set to the right levels and it was quite difficult to understand him at times... other than that, was well executed and an exciting show to watch! Definitely done in the classical circus style...
Really Good Show!!! :)
Fantastic! A great evening of fun and music.
If you like to see things a little different. This is a great night to be had by all ADULTS. The content of this show is not for children under 17 yrs.
I enjoyed not only the circus but also the intermission show. What an exciting night. Come out an experience something different, exciting and memorable.
Very entertaining and talented cast. So glad I went.
This was a unique show we had great seats, the unique acts were well done and the music and singing added to our enjoyment. We hope the show gets other venues in the future.
The show started 30 minutes late. The intermission was almost 30 minutes long. Both of which are probably on purpose to get people to buy more concessions.
The show was disjointed and amateurish. Some of the performers were really great, but everything felt really self indulgent and lacking a cohesiveness.
It was wonderful. It's too bad it ended on Sunday. I wanted to tell more people to see it.
The circus was very enjoyable. Professional and talented acts. Fun midway events before the performance and during intermission. Great people watching. The $10.00 parking fee was an unpleasant surprise. I took my 23 year old son and we both had a good time.
FABULOUS!!!!!!
This is not your mother's circus, unless your mother was a kinky suicidal counter-culture cabaret star. Cirque Bezerk allegedly formed one year at Burning Man, and the show and environs have that "art-for-the-rest-of-us" alternative feel that makes it raucous, loud, dark, and a little rough around the edges. What makes the show especially amazing is that it's a home-grown Los Angeles-based circus, complete with stage band, singers, trapeze artists, contortionist, aerialists, flame swallowers and clowns, all darkly re-visioned as an afterlife cabaret. You will most likely compare them to Cirque du Soleil, which is the international standard against which all other troupes are evaluated, and you will likely find them less crisp and flashy than the family-oriented shows in Santa Monica. Instead, this is an underworld dream under a big top in the corn field near Chinatown (walking distance from the Gold Line Station) - a true L.A. event (don't bring the kids). This is the second year they've pitched the tent at this location, and this year's show is a great improvement over last year in every way. If you went last year and thought it was OK, by all means, you should go again (most of the evening is new material and quite good). One word of caution: if you have a problem with loud music, take earplugs. This is the last weekend, so carpe noctem!
Saw this on Goldstar and took my Mom and niece. What a fantastic evening!! Interesting and thought provoking storyline and amazing performances by an exceptionally talented group of artists. I highly recommend this show. We parked in the Cirque lot, but there was ample free parking around the venue. My 19 year old niece loved the live music and vendor area.
The band was great, but the singers were way to loud and shrilly.
I think the overall level of the Music could have ben turned down a few. It seemed distorted at times.
The Trampoline act was the best.
The down side is I think we found the 2 bad seats.
Box seats are great but should be tiered so the family of finish giants don't block the views of normal people. Also, the poles that hold the speaker monitors block the view of the band and singers.
awesome time! go!! go now!!!
This is the fantastic circus.
The photography director was a reporter of fantastic dreams and images that we have known about Circus in the 19 century. Beautifuly performed, the band was perfect, the custumes were a cartoonish delight.
I loved it
Tips are provided by Goldstar members and Cirque Berzerk. Goldstar is not responsible for their content or accuracy.
Formerly known as "The Cornfield," aka the last vast open space in the heart of downtown, The Los Angeles State Historic Park spans 32 acres, sits adjacent to Chinatown and is easily accessible by bus, rail (a very short walk from the Chinatown station on the Gold Line), car or bicycle.
Website: http://www.cirqueberzerk.com/
It’s been called everything from "a circus on acid" to "French burlesque meets Sweeney Todd." Cirque Berzerk's unique flavor of adult psychedelic vaudevillian tomfoolery returns to the Los Angeles State Historic Park. Born at Burning Man in 2005 and named one of “L.A.’s 10 Weirdest Events of 2008” by the Los Angeles Times, Cirque Berzerk has tickled the collective innards of L.A. and beyond with a psychotically-tinged sultry show filled with sinewy, breathtaking acrobatics, sensual aerialists, gothic stilt walkers, fetishy burlesque dancers, voluptuous contortionists and a host of punk rock clowns, none of whom know how to make cute balloon animals for the kiddies. "Wholesome family fun" it ain't.
