English 
Under the Tent With Paranormal Cirque II
“How did I find myself in an unheated area on one of January’s coldest nights?” this Florida girl mumbled to herself while sitting between two of my closest friends and colleagues and sipping my $10 slushee, which was warmer than the air around me.
“Only YOU could get me in this type of situation,” one of them leaned in to joke, stealing a sip of my frozen treat, hoping it would stop his teeth from chattering.
Oh yeah, it was my idea. I had no one to blame but myself. There I was in a red-and-black makeshift tent with two of my favorite people, surrounded by the undead and people waiting to enjoy it. A little bit scared of what was coming for us, we prepared ourselves for the spectacle.
“Here goes nothing,” I thought as the lights went down and I snuggled between the two of them for warmth, as I had with my mom and brother at Circus World when I was a child.
In 2021, my husband and I went to a similar show in Daytona. That time it was mid-May, so instead of freezing, the audience was sweltering. I had gushed so much about it that when I saw that this Cirque was coming back into town, I reached out to friends who I thought would enjoy this type of performance. I got lucky enough that the first two to respond were some of my favorite humans. Paranormal Cirque II was on.
Both times, within five minutes, you don’t realize the temperature because you are so enraptured with what is happening on stage.
Part cabaret, part circus, and all done with an underworld tone, Paranormal Cirque is a touring show that combines cabaret, death-defying feats, and humor, with a disturbing touch of respect for the underworld. The three of us got to enjoy the type of adult circus that brings joy to the darker child in all of us.
“If you enjoyed our show, please share everything on social media under Paranormal Cirque II,” were the last words of the ring leader, holding up two fingers. Unlike those from other spectacles, he was dressed in a powdered wig and pantaloons. He had begun the show in the same costume, but then spent the better part of the second act in his tighty-whities. Not only did he run the show, but he also provided comic relief throughout the production, keeping the audience entertained between set changes.
The entertainment didn’t stop there. A contortionist with a zombie feel, an aerial dancer held by chains, and the ever-present undead. Once the demons had set up the tightrope, the audience was already holding its breath. When the performer fell between the slackline and his legs, we all groaned for his groin. Was it planned, or did he really hurt himself? We didn’t know. But the crowd was cheering for him to get back up—and he did, to triumphant success.
Then, as the newer circus favorite, the double wheel of destiny came out toward the end of the second act, a hush fell over the crowd. No one wanted to see anybody get hurt, but secretly the stories of “I was there that night” flowed through our heads.
The ghouls-turned-stagehands were charming and always in character. One even told me that I looked very pretty—for a LIVE person—which, for a woman of a certain age and sensibility, made me swoon. Credit to them as ushers, stagehands, and concessionaires for keeping the theme going the entire night.
Like someone at a concert who only wants to hear the songs they know, I was surprised by how much new material they performed. It wasn’t the same show I had seen before, but in some ways this one was better. After some research, I learned that Paranormal Cirque has more than eleven different versions—some with more humor, others with more darkness. They are the same, but not the same, and there are many layers to this type of circus.
If you love the circus and have a feel for the dark side, any version of Paranormal Cirque is for you. Dark, sexy, and amusing, Paranormal Cirque II is worth the price of admission.
