Bindlestiff Sideshow Stabbing

There is a wonderful performance-art troupe that I like to see called the Bindlestiff Family Circus. A bunch of friends and I went out to the Brooklyn Brewery to see them. I love this group, because they're more a circus for grownups, all inside jokes, sexual innuendo, pure, open minded, raucous fun. During the final fire-eating act, I ran to the bathroom to beat the crowd. When I can out, I saw flashing lights outside the building and chucked to myself, thinking it was an added part of the act - fireplay, fire engine lights, you get it. Not until Scotty the Blue Bunny starting yelling, "If you're not with the circus, get the fuck out" did I realize something was wrong. Scottty's usually abrasive, but it tends to me more of the fun, engaging type. That was when I noticed the knot of people clustered about something on the floor. As I was hustled out of the warehouse, I learned that someone had been stabbed during the final act. It blew me away. Here I was enjoying a performance, and the animal in someone had risen up, taken over, killing a fellow audience member as a result. I couldn't believe it. And to add to this, the man responsible, while caught, was never convicted. In a room full of people, there was not a single witness to the crime. All I could think was "It was just another part of the performance for them." A painting had to come from this. The experience found its closure for me when I gave a copy of the piece to Scotty, and Keith and Stephanie the fire performers/ring masters. You can see the Bindlestiffs at their site. I also found a wonderful piece on the stabbing by Hugh Mann.

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