Knives, Chaos, and a Man Cave: Two Geniuses on the Edge
Walking into the set of Us at the Re Riga! Circus Festival was like stepping into a man cave—a chaotic garage where two men seek refuge from the world, perhaps hiding out from their wives, or just escaping reality. The performance, which drew the highest number of men in the audience, took place in the gritty, atmospheric Rīgas cirks yard. The space was cluttered, a touch reckless, and brimming with the kind of bad ideas that only seemed brilliant in the dead of night. It reminded me of my childhood, playing wild games with cousins, where one day a knife-throwing mishap left me half a finger short. The show captures that same sense of youthful recklessness, blending it with the calculated chaos of a rebellious computer and a hundred ways things could go wrong.
Us dives into the lives of two self-proclaimed Homo Sapiens Idioticus—partners in crime who thrive on the edge, knives in hand and danger in their sights. Dressed in garage clothes, they resemble a cross between a blacksmith and his tipsy buddy whose washing machine has been out of commission for way too long. Their world is a precarious, unstable universe where anything can fall at any moment, all orchestrated by a mischievous computer system and one ominous red button. Sometimes, they even put that button in the hands of an unsuspecting audience member, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the chaos.
Forget traditional circus glamour; this act feels like a pair of thrill-seeking boys playing with sharp, forbidden objects, embracing the reckless fun of their garage experiments. By the end of the show, the duo leaves the audience with a playful reminder: “Kids, remember, the most fun stuff to play with is in the garage.”
In traditional circus acts, knife throwing often featured a beautiful assistant—a “damsel in distress” dressed in a dashing, risqué outfit, standing poised and vulnerable as blades narrowly missed her. It was a thrilling, if somewhat unsettling, spectacle that played on the tension between danger and seduction. But in Us, the duo flips this script with a clownish twist. Instead of a classic knife-thrower and his glamorous assistant, you’ve got two friends who revel in making fun of each other.
Their act is less about tension and more about laughter, blending technology, slapstick, and absurdity with their unique brand of comedic banter. It’s a modern take on the tradition, where the real thrill comes from their outrageous antics and the unpredictability of their charming and playful chemistry.
The show is a high-wire act of skill and chaos, where knives aren’t the only things soaring through the air. With a blend of flairtending, juggling, and a sprinkle of magic, it keeps you riveted from start to finish. In a uniquely entertaining twist, the duo takes a coffee break mid-show, brewing up a storm with a macchinetta and lighting it with a flaming knife—because who doesn’t want a touch of pyrotechnics with their caffeine? By the end of the performance, they’re not just sipping coffee; they’re having a full-on cup exchange, mixing and mingling their brews with playful flair.
Meanwhile, they casually toss knives at each other, just for the sheer thrill of it, leaving us all a bit envious. Mastering that kind of skill seems like it’s beyond us mere mortals—unless you’re aiming for a one-way ticket to prison, which, let’s be honest, is probably just me speaking from personal experience. The excitement doesn’t stop there—flying buckets weighted down with unpredictable contents add an extra layer of mayhem, and at one point, a wine bottle hilariously smacks Joris on the head. And it’s all tied together by their third “performer”: the structure, a rigged setup with 100 objects dangling above, ready to drop at any moment, all controlled by the performers themselves from the stage.
Company Midnight, born from the brilliant minds of Joris Verbeeren and Simone Scaini, has spent over a decade perfecting their audacious knife-throwing act. Longtime friends and circus partners, Joris, the juggler with a penchant for slapstick and everyday objects, and Simone, the neurotic “Mad Professor” with a nocturnal flair, have poured their unique quirks and passions into their craft. Not exactly morning people, they start their days with coffee and a bit of banter before diving into practice sessions. For these two, every household item is a potential prop, turning the mundane into magical circus tricks. Together, they’ve transformed knife-throwing into a spectacle of near misses, laughter, and sheer, thrilling audacity.
Us isn’t just a show; it’s a finely tuned performance where every moment teeters on the brink of disaster, making it a thrill from start to finish. It’s a wild ride that mixes artistry, danger, and a hint of nostalgia, reminding us all of the fine line between play and peril.