The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus comes to town
by Joe Tarr
Two years ago, a subversive group called the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performed a late night show at the Sevierville Civic Center.
Announced with little fanfare and no advertising, the circus took the stage after 11:30 p.m. It seemed an unlikely stage for the troupe, which is known for its erotic vaudeville and burlesque show.
But the group wasn't there
to push the limits in a small God-fearing, church-going East Tennessee town. They had a good friend working at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede at the time. The friend and his co-workers were eager for a little entertainment of their own.
"The Sevierville people heard that we were kind of burlesque," says Stephanie Monseu, the ringleader and co-founder, who goes by the name Mistress Philomena on stage. "They called us up and said, 'We're sorry, we're going to have to cancel, this is a family community.'"
After a bit of sweet talking and repeated assurances, the Sevierville officials agreed to let the show go on, provided the group promise to keep their clothes on and not use any nasty words. The sheriff and fire marshal were there just in case. There were a few mishaps, nonetheless. During one act a performer's "boob popped out of her dress," Monseu says. And when Monseu was escaping from a straight jacket, her own shirt popped open.
"They didn't return my calls when I tried to book it this year," she says.
Luckily for the Bindlestiff Cirkus and for Knoxville, there was another venue—Blue Cats—more than happy to host them. But although the circus is still plenty edgy and entertaining, don't expect to see anything too raunchy at this show. The troupe has toned down their act for the tour.
"We're just exploring different types of comedy. I don't think it's necessary to go to extreme lengths, breaking people's taboos. We've done that for so many years and we just wanted to do something different," Monseu says. "It's still a great show and there are elements of burlesque. It's really funny and sexy, but not a super-extreme kind of show."
Of course, the Bindlestiff Cirkus no longer needs the promise of striptease to lure crowds. After a seven-month stand at a theater on Times Square and an HBO special, the group is well established and a leader in the so-called new vaudeville.
Not that the group was ever X-rated. Most of their lascivious acts involved putting an adult twist on traditional vaudeville or circus shows. In Sevierville, Mistress Philomena gave instructions on how to use a condom, a mucousy act in which she sucked it up into her mouth and blew it out her nose.
In other shows, a "brother and sister" team has done balloon tricks that simulated oral sex; Philomena has whipped cigars wedged between the bare butt cheeks of her partner, Mr. Pennygaff, the drunken hobo; and in another a man has simulated masturbation with a large dildo that shoots flames.
Aside from their lewd sense of humor, the Bindlestiff Family (which isn't really a family) is made up of great performers—phenomenal jugglers, acrobats, stunt men and women, and tricksters.
Controversy followed them early on. In one conservative Christian Illinois town they got death threats, and in Murfreesboro a transsexual performer was hassled and put in a police car, Monseu says.
"We've always had a high profile pan-gendered mix of people on the crew. That's caused some [commotion]," she says. "Over 10 years, certainly the country has been exposed to different forms of lifestyle. You don't run into the weird moments anymore."
The circus was born back in 1994, when Monseu met Keith Nelson (Pennygaff) in an all-night East Village restaurant, where they both worked the graveyard shift. "I found out Keith was a juggler and knew how to eat fire. I found that fascinating," she says. "I bugged him and bugged him until he taught me how to eat fire."
The two were soon working as a fire eating team. After performing at the Burning Man Festival in Arizona in 1995, they enlisted the help of other performers and hit the road.
Although it's a mainstay of their show, the Bindlestiff Family is taking a break from fire since the disastrous Great White concert in Providence, which killed 100 people and injured 200.
"It was always one of my favorite things to do. I look forward to doing it again when that fear dies down," Monseu says. Fire eating is really transformative. It's magical, almost surreal. I would not want anyone to lose one iota of enjoyment because they're worried the club might go up."
What you will see is Mr. Pennygaff swallowing swords, sabers, scissors and other things; Saturn's hula-hoop gyrations; acrobatics by the Slapinski Brothers; Philomena's bull-whip tricks; a homeland security gag; Tanya Gagne's trapeze strip tease; Tarzana's aerial rope contortions and more—all done with the Bindlestiff's unique adult humor and lots of audience participation. Monseu says the act's intimacy and connection to the audience are ultimately what make it special.
Ten years ago, you wouldn't see any circus in a theater. This whole new vaudeville and new variety has become so popular because in almost any other form of entertainment, you're so removed from the performer.
"With what we do, we're so close up to people. The trapeze is right above you. I think that's what's exciting for people. I think it's really fun and accessible. We do this to make you feel good."
May 15, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 20
© 2003 Metro Pulse
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