Here's why you should go even if you read the early bad reviews: Most of the bad reviews where due to the opening weekend. Of course there was going to be mishaps, its opening weekend! They needed time to work out the bugs and work out the bugs they did, with each show they become better, funnier, more amazing and all around kick ass! It takes time to trim the fat and find whats needed. I was concerned reading them myself, I mean I got my tickets presale and paid full price because I was so excided they were back, and then worried once the reviews started to show up. Yeah I wish they were still in the tent too, I wish they still had the "Wondering Marionettes", and some other aspects' of the first show, but they didn't and I still had a blast! Don't forget it's A CUIRCIS! Its not supposed to be perfect and faultless, it's supposed to be strange and different and everything out of the ordinary! The second time I went I know there were new things added and even thought I had a great time the first time I saw it, I had an even greater time the second time, so much so if I can scrape together enough I'll surely go a third time! So Go, have a great time, hang out with the cast and meet some really cool people and have an experience you just would never get to have in your regular life. If you follow my easy steps you too can save about $100 a person! With all the money you save you can go see it again.... Well only if you catch the Friday show first, because Sunday January 30th is their last night. I first saw this productions run on the 15th and had such a great time I came back for the show on the 21st. Since there are numerous amount of reviews, mines will focus on tips to maximize your fun! And get your moneys worth. First start off by going to your local liquor store and getting your favorite drink, if you rather not have it straight up I recommend going to one that's a mini mart and getting a nice tall cup of ice and your favorite mix in. Now here's the important part, do not open it or drink it yet.... Stick it in your trunk and wait till you get to the parking lot! I'm not going to be the reason for your next DUI. When you get to the Nokia / Staples Center area, head to Olympic and Francisco St. and find way cheaper parking in one of those lots it shouldn't be over $10; don't worry its close and it will give you a chance to rock my parking lot drink recipe. Ok here is the "On the cheap drink" recipe. (Cause believe me those $10 tinny drinks in there are not going to get you nearly sauced up enough) Start off by turning off your car and taking the keys out, I don't want you to be tempted to drive. Get your cup we pre iced take half the soda or liquid content out and fill the rest up with the liquor of your choice. Replace lid, add straw, mix and enjoy! Now here is the important part, get out of your car, take your drink with you, don't forget your keys so you don't get locked out and continue to enjoy your drink on your walk to Nokia Live! Fell free to hang out in front and finish your drink, because they will check your bag and make you go through the metal defector before going in, so leave your metal flask at home.... Feel free to bring your plastic one if you have it handy. Now for tickets; your best bet will be the Friday or Sunday night 11:00pm show. Go to Goldstar.com or any half price ticket place you can find and get the cheap tickets. There is likely to be open seats, move to the better ones and enjoy your show! The Ushers are super cool about letting you move around they only ask you move over if you do end up in seats that where sold. After the show, remember to hang out and meet the cast, they are super friendly and love to get to know their fans... By then if your weren't, you will be a fan! And if you MUST now is the time to get a drink, the bartenders will think your with the show or friends of the show and they give you drinks in the bigger cups put way more liquor and in my case didn't even charge me! But make sure to tip them well, that's just being a nice person! Loved the show, loved the cast, reminds me why we all want to run away and join the circus! read more

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I have been waiting a while (a year or two) to get tickets to this act. Every time I realize they are in town or they are playing, it is either too late or sold out. So finally, I get tickets. Low and behold, I don't get seats! WTH! Hosted in the Nokia Club, not Nokia Center- which by the way is a lot smaller than the latter, we were left standing (in heels need I not remind you) the entire show. Luckily, my spidey senses started tingling and I found two random seats against the wall way in the back near the bar. We grabbed those seats and sat our keisters down, to which we quickly started deflecting all the hate rayz we were receiving from everyone around us who were standing. Sorry folks, we win. Anyway, it was dark, sensual, and erotic. The show is all about taboo, sex, and flashy acrobatic moves. There is a story plot, but not really necessary. This show is all about dark theatrics and being badass. I really liked the jumping off mattresses act and the one gymnast who could bend and balance grapes from her toes. Why not 4 or even 5 stars? Well, it started off with a bang, but ended on the weaksauce. We were led up to anticipation and then after the climax of the show (after intermission) we were seriously and thoroughly let down. Also, they are elitists here at Nokia Club. I paid for a basic ticket, was left standing there and had to fend for my own chair/seat, and to top it off, we didn't even get to see a good 1/4 of the show due to the acrobats going up in the air. There was a huge wall that blocked off all of the general audience's view. What's up with that? I know Cirque Berzerk changes venues often, so I hope that next time it will be a viewing pleasure for all people and not only people who are willing to fork over 50+ dollars for a mediocre show. read more

We went and checked this out on Saturday night. Talk about amazing! These performers are so completely talented, that I was sitting there in awe the entire time. The music is live and the singing is unreal. The whole experience is well worth the money! The only complaint I had was that there was TOO much exciting stuff going on that I know I missed out on some spectacles. I am planning on going back before they leave, so that I am sure to support all these talented artists. A must see for anyone who loves being completely entertained and inspired. read more

Don't hate! This was great fun. Came last Saturday for a small bday gathering. Turned out to be one of my most favorite birthdays. Take it for what it is,a boutique circus group performing in the middle of downtown. They're no Cirque du Soleil but they're more talented than any of my friends. At the end of the show, they all came out to dance and drink with the audience. The band, Vaud and the Villains, were so awesome! We danced all night. If I lived back in LA I'd go back even just for the after party. read more

Cirque Berzerk - Just a few Circus Freaks - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I really didn't know what to expect from the show on recommendation from my cousin. Cool show, great acrobatics, and all the singing and music were live. A bit different of a show and not something I'd be into seeing often, but it worth it this time Think of a more dark, twisted, and gothic cirque de soleil Let me echo in agreement with others.....the plot did suck, but no one goes to these things for the plot. read more

Brilliant show! Intimate, old-timey atmosphere. Truly a wonderous accomplishment. Thank you all for doing what you do. Through you, we are all that much more alive...or dead, as you might have it. Made me go home and turn that Tom Waits up full blast. Joy. Bravo! read more

Best show ever...i buy every show i can.. Unbelievable act, great music..as a drummer, i would go just to listen to him alone..i go to their site monthly to see when they will be back. A show you never want to end.. I love these guys!!! Brilliant!!! read more

I think this will be an amazing show in a few more years. The concept of the show is fantastic. The performers are all super talented. I was so impressed with some of the acts and found myself cracking up at the humor they incorporated throughout the show. (I love angry, bossy, little people! They rock!) The show overall is still a little rough around the edges in how it's put together. I thought the cabaret girls were out of sync and had no pizazz. Again, great concept . . . not the greatest execution. Other than filling time, I wasn't sure what their purpose was. The atmosphere was pretty cool. I liked that they had a live band outside during intermission. Drinks were actually a decent size and price compared to other shows or concerts. Most of the staff was really great with the exception of one of the girls taking tickets at the door. Her corset must have been too tight. It was cutting off the circulation to her brain and she must have lost her manners! (Yes, I am talking about you, girl in the green corset dress who was totally checking out my date!) I'll want to see this show again in a few years. It's worth going to one of the shows. Overall, a great experience! read more

Cirque Berzerk is dark dark tale of a circus on the other side of reality...you will trip down the hole with Alice to a bizarro land peppered with burlesque reviews, amazing singers, fireplay, gorgeous trapeze artists and a general extravaganza you won't soon forget. I highly recommend going...and dress in your finest circus wear, make it an event.....perfect for a date...... read more

Last night I turned to a friend and said "I wish this were my reality" and he smiled at me and said "it is". That is how I would describe the Cirque Berzerk performance and surrounding event that I experienced last night. It was totally awesome. From the fairground type environment that greets you upon arrival, to the Big Top where this adults only show was non-stop "wow" entertainment to the outdoor bar area with live entertainment (think living with Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" and you kind of get the picture). The smiles, the energy, the outfits, the talent, the people. It was truly the best! If you haven't already gone to see Cirque Berzerk, you should really treat yourself. All of us here in L.A. are sooooooooooooo lucky to witness this show that shows more strength, muscle, and raw talent than the often overly produced Cirque de Soleil shows in Vegas that occasionally come our way via Santa Monica and/or downtown. Word on the street is that Cirque Berzerk is headed to Europe next year. In the meantime, they may extend their L.A. stay thru the end of summer. We should all be so lucky. read more

This is a great show I would recommend that you GO EXPERIENCE IT! Its a great experience from the time you walk in, the photo booth takes great pictures and its a great place to take a date! I wouldn't recommend the standing tickets, no matter where you sit you will have a good view because the venue is small. The entire show was entertaining and the cast never got out of character! We took pictures with the entire cast at the end of the show and it was very entertaining. There is a little of everything in the show, comedy, singing, dancing, and the arts :D read more

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(yawn) that's not a yawn due to the show, that's a yawn because I am finally in my bed super comfy and ready to knock out! But first, let me tell you about Cirque Bezerk!!!!!! Thank goodness I made it to Yelp Elite 2011 because they have an act for rewarding yelpers with their first event of the year with something amazing and this still holds true! The show was amazing! The acts were exciting and kept me intrigued the whole way through even through intermission. I really didn't know what to expect as each act came into play but I was totally fucking amazed by the time each performance was completed! There were people inside of over-sized hoola-hoops, people balancing on each other, people soaring through the air with each other, people bouncing off trampolines onto walls, people hanging off of thread, people soaring through hoops and much more!!!! The performances were just as good as Teatro Zinzani's and the vocals were coolio compared to Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard in San Francisco. BUT Yes there's a but... the ushers really didn't have their timing down as to when to they should let patrons proceed to their seats!!! Wait til each act was done and then let them proceed! I swear I was moving more than your favorite bobble head sports figurine around each and every person walking in front of me trying to find their seat while the show was on!!! Utterly disturbing and totally distracting from the show!!! Hence the 4 stars. Luckily it was 4 instead of 3 because of the magnificent bartenders! They hooked up the alcohol to their pricey libations! Damn I was faded by the time I left Nokia theaters!! Anyways! I would go and enjoy the show! Time for me to sleep as I am done! Great times and thank you Yelp! read more

I saw Cirque Bezerk " Beneath" in 2009 at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. 2009 was a great year for Cirque Bezerk: good atmosphere, good view, relatively small and intimate audience, and carny food. 2009 was like being dead while partying at the Burning Man show. Seeing they were back I was really stoked to see them at the Club Nokia. Alas, they are back, but not better than ever. Cirque Bezerk is now showing at the Club Nokia. Instead of dining on carny food or having a picnic at the Los Angeles State Historic Park--you know have the option of dining at 1 hour wait dinner service at any fine overpriced establishment at the LA Live. Instead of free parking or being right next to the Chinatown Gold Line--you get to pay for $25 dollar parking. It gets better--instead of being in an actual tent and setting on stadium style bleacher seats with a pretty close view--you get to pay up the ass for stadium style seats with a really terrible view. If your going to pay for the show--don't get the balcony seats, you'll miss or have to stretch your neck E.T. style in order to see some of the happens down below. Finally, you get the pure joy of being surrounded by drunk ladies who opt to wear club wear, including ridiculous spiked heal shoes, that mash your feet when ever they feel the need to get up and go get yet ANOTHER drink. And it doesn't stop there. At one point in the show the next act was being set up and it was blatantly obvious that the show staff was having trouble setting up the trampoline during the show. It appears that the stage props were getting in the way of tying down the trampoline. Mistakes happen but clearly, the Club Nokia is not a good place for Cirque Bezerk. Additionally one of the acts had to be cut short owing to technical problems. And once you get out you get the privy of hanging out with the Laker crowd that just got out at the same Cirque Bezerk did! Oh my yes, there will be traffic! The raw talent that the troupe has is without a doubt, very good. Cirque Bezerk never seizes to amaze it's audience. However, the heart and soul of Cirque Bezerk has been lost when they decided to move from the Big Top and sold themselves to the Devil at the Club Nokia. Bottom line: I have hesitation to go back if they decide to show a the Club Nokia--it just wasn't that good compared to the good ol' days of 2009. read more

You guys took the heart and soul of this thing and totally ruined what made it so great in the first place. At the original location, you were transported to another place and time. It felt like an old time carnival, freak show and Disneyland all in one. As you parked in the dirt lot and saw the big tent, fires burning and stilt walker from afar, you got that nervous feeling in your stomach of not knowing what was next and you were excited about it.. Everything about the prior setup was so amazing. You felt as if, even though this was happening in LA, you were privy to some sort of secret spectacle that only you knew about. You were about to be part of something magical and then once you were inside the tent, it did not disappoint. Now, it has become a corporate shell of itself, all the items that made it great are gone. Even the show itself has changed in such a way that it has become some run of the mill experience that is in no way worth the money. We were there on opening night, feeling as if we were being ushered into the convention center and ended up seeing a puppet show. $50 for a sweatshirt, really? read more

This is a fantastic alternative circus. My experience was wonderful, I only wish I was in the first row. Truly an old tyme type circus, the kind that reminds you of the cable show Deadwood. I really prefer this to Cirque du Soleil, it seems more authentically circus-like and less produced. I highly recommend it. read more

I'm a bit torn between 3 & 4 stars. After reading some of the old reviews, and having being sat down in Club Nokia, I can definitely see where people are a bit sad that it's no longer in some awesome big-top circus atmosphere. However, I think they did the best they could in terms of decor and atmosphere, and it was still beautifully decorated inside the theater. The Oh-So-Wonderful: YELP!! We can't thank you enough for a really fun night! What would we have done without our free Yelp Elite tickets?! Amazing! The decor: Like I said, they really did a great job considering Club Nokia & Cirque Berzerk are kind of opposites in terms of style and ambiance. The trampoline artists: I don't care how many trampoline artists I see, I'm always in awe of them. These guys were great...funny, personable, and talented. Two thumbs way up. The guy & girl who crazily balance each other and stand on each other's hands, legs, etc: I don't even know what to call them..but wonderful! At first, I was thinking that it was stuff we'd seen before (not that I can do them, of course...but you know, things you've seen on like TV, shows, etc). But they definitely pulled some stuff out that really showcases their strength and talent well! The girl & guy spinning inside of a hula-hoopy thing (like a big wheel): Never saw that in person before, and it was definitely entertaining. How talented they are! I love that they're smaller and 'seedier' than Cirque du Soleil - it had this more intimate, freak-show feeling about it. The first half of the show definitely keeps you entertained! The Good (but not-so-wonderful): The girls on the hoops, ropes, ribbon-things dangling from the ceiling: These girls were all very talented and did a good job. I'm putting them under here because most of the shows I've seen that have these components have been better. Still, the girls did a good job. The guys on the ropes, hoops, etc: Again, wonderfully good. I think they did a much better job than the girls did....their strength really just shows through. The gymnast girl who did crazy balancing acts: This girl was strong and talented! Definitely no complaints The Bad: The 2nd half of the show. I truly can't remember anything from it. They tried their hand at some breakdancing, dancing, writhing around on the floor. My husband and I were terribly unimpressed and a bit bored. Seems like the people next to us were too - he pulled out his phone and started playing games and checking Facebook. Another group of people started having a conversation - NOT about the show. The Ringmaster: Wow..I saw the bad reviews on this guy....but it really didn't prepare me as to how utterly annoying and cliche he'd be. They really should find someone different or just do a narration type of story and cut him out all together (which, from my understanding, he's one of the co-founders, so I'm guessing that's not happening). He, along with the lackluster 2nd half of the show, really bring my 4-star review right back down to 3. Overall, we TRULY had a fun time...I'd even recommend the show. I just feel like they have so much more potential to make this show mind-blowing, so I have my fingers crossed that it'll progressively get better! Thanks again Yelp for a super fun time! read more

Sorry, but this show is so boring. It looks cool, but it's not worth the money at all. We were very excited to go see something different and were very disappointed. Make sure you have money to spare if you try it out. read more

First of all, I got suckered in by the really hilarious youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuDMOGfXHSc Whomever came up with that one's nothing short of genius. I went opening night and it's a fun night out. CB's taken a mega-leap forward with this show, v. last year and at Burning Man. It's clear that they've rolled the dice, yet they don't seem to have sold out to Disney or some other entity that'd make them water their shit down to be "fun for the whole family." If you have kids, get a sitter that's down with earning some OT. It's all about the overall experience of the night. Go early and lube up in the liquor tent. I had a great tequila and cranberry juice concoction. Actually, I had three of them. And, you can drink in the tent. Bravo. Loved the hand-to-hand stuff, the bungee act (esp. the costumes), the woman on the silks-quite a sexy performance, but my fave was the trampoline brothers (make their segment longer!). The after-party at the booze tent: stellar. Band was awesome; it was just plain fun. The petite blonde girl in the show who was more of a ballet dancer: HOT. The first night of any production's always tough-especially since the whole shebang (and I mean everything-not just the big top) has grown tremendously in size over last year. There's so many things that could've gone wrong and didn't. Hats off to them for pulling that off. I'm going back to see it again with a friend who was out of town and couldn't make it. I wish them all the luck in the world and congrats for making it this far. Oh, and thank you for not being Cirque du Soleil. As for the haters, maybe they should start a website called CheckOutMyCirqueDuSoleilSatinTourJacketCollectionDotOrg. read more

a HUGE thank you to Yelp and Katie B. for hooking us up with free tickets. gotta love yelp! :) a few quick comments since most of the main stuff has been said: 1. the show isn't that great. i didn't expect cirque style acrobatics, because it's not a "true" cirque show, but i did expect something close. it wasn't close. not at all. this is a cool show, with some talented artists, but it should just be called acrobatics berzerk, without using the word cirque, which throws people off. the show wasn't clean or professional, it looked like a play put on by highschool students. the transitions were off, a lot of the storyline didn't make sense. they need to work on it. 2. not kid-friendly. not under-20 friendly. not a family outing. mostly for people in their late 20s to early 40s. 3. parking is a bitch at LA Live, which is why i found free street parking three blocks away. it was all of a 5 minute walk. stop complaining about parking, people, and hunt for street parking! 4. drinks are expensive - $25 for two captain drinks & 1 water bottle. yikes. someone said the water was 8$?? 5. the singers are TERRIBLE. i mean really really terrible. fire them. get CDs. they are terribly off-key the entire time. it gave me a headache. 6. the best acts are the acrobatic couple and the trampoline. after that, the show goes downhill. the finale, the lady in the red dress in her ring, is not impressive in comparison to some of the prior acts. 7. Nokia is DEFINITELY not the right venue for this type of show. it's difficult to see from the sides of the balconies, the stage is much too small, it takes 20 people to push the trampoline into the right spot. the amphitheater does look beautiful, all lit up and decorated, but it's just not the right venue. they should not have booked w/ Nokia. 8. like Shauna D., i didn't like the ringmaster. he seemed comical, not creepy. if you're going dark, go dark. go big or go home. it wasn't scary enough for me. again, i'm extremely grateful i had the opportunity to see the show, it IS good, and it's worth your time, but i would have been sad had i paid more than $15 or $20 to see it. also, don't go in expecting cirque du soleil. read more

Big thanks to Katie B. and Yelp for the free tickets to the show. Were seated in section 103, on the floor and stage left. Our view was slightly obscured but ultimately we were able to see about 95% of the action on the stage. The show itself felt like a bigger show crammed in to a small space, but they made good use of the space they had. I went in not expecting very much but ended up being pleasantly surprised and sufficiently entertained. It had the look of Moulin Rouge meets Rocky Horror meets an Acrobat Show. I agree with other Yelpers about the lack of a coherent and convincing storyline, but I wasn't really there for the story I was there for the the acrobatics/gymnastics/feats of strength. In the end it was not overly "Cirque" nor was it especially "Berserk." But we enjoyed the trampolines, the people in the hoops on stage, and especially the man and woman who totally blew us away with their strength as they balanced one another. So all in all we had a good time. Like other reviews have said, this is not a happy clown car "circus" for the kiddies...but honestly the word "berserk" should clue you in to that. I would seriously question the judgment of any parent who would want to take their child to a show called "Cirque Berserk" without first checking what the berserk part involved. Thanks again to our amazing Yelp LA East CM Katie B. for once again providing us with a fun and festive experience. read more

This show was HOT. However, I was disappointed that since I was sitting in the back of the lower level, the balcony above me blocked my view for a lot of the aerial performances. Very sexy show though, great costumes, amazing make up, and genius comedy. This is a great place to take a date! Although, not a conservative one. read more

Not too impressed with this show. The first half of the show was very good in all aspects. The 2nd half did not fade away, it just died a slow boring death. It was like 2 different shows took place. I have seen many Cirque shows. This one ranked low on the rating board. It a good concept and had a few good acts, like the spinning rings on the floor, balancing act with man/woman, Aeriel men and the best of all was the trampoline. The rest of the show, PLEASE throw it away. Really, it was that bad. It was so anticlimax with each act getting worse and worse. The fire act had no real fire. A lot of people carrying fire, with no real skill to show. The girl in the red dress, nice dancer but no passion. When she went on the Aeriel ring, YAWN! The ring leader was a bad Frankfurter from Rocky Horror show. The act with the little person, and crazy guy. Are you kidding me with that piece of trash. This show needs some serious reworking. Start by KILLING the 2nd half all together. Move the 1st half to the 2nd half. Then start fresh for replacement parts. Good Luck, you will need it. I really wanted this to be a great show. Coming out of my home town LA. As a whole, I was let down and especially at the price they were asking for. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS SHOW. Maybe half price MIGHT be worth it. read more

Very erotic and very sensual. Keep your mind open to the possibilities and the fantasy. I recall my date and I feeling like we wanted to leave the show after the first act to play out the fantasies we kept seeing on stage. Since we actually paid for these tickets we decided to stay and finish the rest of the show. Role playing can wait. We had seats on the floor, center, and 3 rows from the stage. I thought our seats were pretty nice and we could easily see the stage even if it wasn't stadium seating like the balconies. It was also nice being close to the bar that wasn't very crowded ('course, we came on a Sunday night). The first half was VERY entertaining with lots of Oh-Em-Gee and I-wish-I-Could-Join-the-Circus moments. The second half couldn't compete with the first and I thought the main character who ended up as the final performance was sub-par -- they could've done better or chose a better act. I loved the concept behind this dark version of Cirque du Soleil and the feeling of Tim Burton's presence. It was very erotic and sensual and the music was pretty darn amazing that I bought the CD after the show (which I normally wouldn't do). I actually loved some of the costumes so much that I wanna dress like the ladies for Halloween. Would I see it again? Probably not, unless they make it a bigger production (it definitely has potential). Would I pay the price I paid for floor seats? Probably not (I'd opt for standing room or balcony seats). Would I recommend it? Yes, but just don't pay an arm and a leg. Overall, it was a good date night - something off the beaten path, something to talk about, something to fantasize about... which made going home afterward a lot of fun. read more

The only reason I don't give this one star is because I respect the work it takes to mount a show like this. However, please don't waste your time or money on this. Club Nokia is THE WRONG venue for this group. If you want to save yourself from reading the rest of this review it boils down to this: The show itself is a promising concept, but needs better writing and directing, and the Death MC needs to be performed by a better actor. For those who call it a "Poor Man's Cirque du Soliel," let me just say that a poor man can't afford this show either. But the venue is the real hell, here. Okay, now the long version: 1.) $25 for parking is pure robbery. Okay, so I let go of that once we were parked. I'm with friends, whoohoo, let's have fun! 2.) No proper signage to find the theatre. Hundreds of people went the wrong way, and couldn't find the entrance. We walked around an entire building with a herd of others. All right, but we are still having a good time... 3.) Oh. it's not at the Nokia Theatre, it's at Club Nokia. Our bad. Club Nokia is over there! Waaaaay over there. The way the first security guy at the bottom of the escalator said, "Show me your tickets!" I was damned glad I had my tickets or I think I would have been strip-searched right then and there. Sheesh... 4.) Loooooong, narrow security line going back and forth, like a Disney ride? Metal detectors?? PAT DOWNS!?! Why don't you idiots figure out where the real terrorists are hanging out and go be hostile to those customers. By Now, most of my feel-good has been sapped. 5.) I'm finally IN!! Okay, wow, this place is pretty cool. "May I have two waters please?" "That'll be 10 dollars" That's right, folks. Ten dollars for two waters. 6.) We can't even hang out for a little bit in the lobby because it took us so long to get through the security line, we have no time left. The creepy, hatchet-wielding death-clown on stilts in the lobby is pretty crazy, though! 7.) Time to go to the balcony. No ushers... We end up climbing about eight flights of stairs to get to our seats. I am sweating and winded. 8.) My seat is so narrow, that this 6' regular-sized guy can barely fit into it. They really JAMMED the seats in up here. Let's put it this way--Once you get seated, don't plan on getting up to go to the bathroom or refresh your high-priced drink unless you want to annoy and alienate the entire row. This is really beginning to suck. 9.) The show starts, and the first music number, well, WOW it's great! The music is groovy, there's an air of danger, and the vibe is spooky. It's Dorothy goes to Hell. But then next thing you know they break into this ridiculous Cabaret number that totally screws the vibe nine ways. 10.) About five numbers into the show, one of the trapeze artists falls to the stage. And I mean she falls and she hits very, very hard. The kind of hit you can hear in our nosebleed seats. All of the air in the room is sucked out as she's escorted off the stage. All I can think of for the rest of the show is that I hope she's okay, I hope she's okay, and how dicky would it be if I asked for my money back? 11.) Clearly this performer must have been an important part of the show, because we are then treated to a 45+ minute intermission. 12.) The show finally starts back up, but by now my buzz is gone and I have to urinate very badly. However, I am very afraid of the angry woman at the end of our row, so I wisely choose to stay seated. Is she part of the act? 13.) The "MC's" voice is actually starting to get on my nerves a little bit. It is an over-acted archetype. The writing is just not good enough, and the acts are not ready for prime time. This show needs much more directing and choreography talent than it has now. I really hate to say it, but Death sounds a little bit effeminate. 14.) The rest of the show limps along, with the highlights being the hand-balancing and the trampoline acts. Those two definitely stole the show. And the man-on-man homoerotic trapeze act was not so much a thing of dark beauty as a reminder of a certain ice-skating movie. Fire and Ice. The closing number had some promise, musically, but didn't quite live up to the beginning. 15.) Getting out was no easier than getting in. And may I suggest getting a head start to the men's room? Other than that, enjoy the show! read more

After seeing several Cirque du Soleil shows, this definitely feels a bit like "Cirque-LITE". Thats not to say I didn't have fun watching the show. Some great live music with acts that varied from "jaw dropping good" to "keep practicing." My biggest criticism is that the show crawls for the first 10 minutes before anything of any real substance happens. Once it gets rolling, though, it maintains a pretty entertaining pace. So if your looking for something different to do on a mundane night in Los Angeles, check this show out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. ONE WARNING: Save yourself some money and get the center seats in the back section. I paid almost $80 to sit up front and practically strained my neck trying to watch everything. read more

I was really impressed with this show. I have seen Cirque du Soleil, and no, this isn't anything on that scale, so don't be expecting that. It is really fun for what it is, though. The location is great and there were a variety of really good acts. read more

Loved the show. Saw it last year and couldn't wait to see it again. My only complaint- the venue. Seating wasn't the greatest. Sat in the second row, balcony, center. Seemed like a good choice at the time. However, unlike last year, people are allowed to get up and walk around and exit as they please. I can't say how many times my view was obstructed. Other than that, the show is entertaining and exciting. LOVE THE DANCERS. read more

there are few times in life that one is completely in awe of the triumphs of the human body: the Olympics, hot dog eating competitions, and apparently, the circus. I found myself ooh'ing and awing, woah'ing and wow'ing throughout the whole performance. They were hoopin and swinging and jumping and bouncing around and all I could think was "MAN I really need to go to yoga more often!" I went because of the graciousness of the yelp event that provided free tickets and swept us right up to the 4th floor VIP lounge. seating was ample but bartenders manning the bar were not. expect to pay a hefty chunk for a mini drink, walk a few blocks for parking, and and to be bedazzled by an eerie underworld show of the bizarre and bezerk! in all honesty, they could have stood there and pulled a rabbit out of a hat (or a hat out of a rabbit, for that matter) and I would have been happy, but it was definitely a sight to see! read more

I really wanted to like this show and feel bad telling you to skip it...but since I'm someone who regularly checks out any available reviews before seeing any type of show, I feel I should participate here...especially when the experience was so lame. Not a great show. At all. First of all, the guy playing "Death" (who's also apparently the show's writer and music creator) is about as cliche as you can get. Every line he utters is repetitive and you get bored of his act in no time at all. To make matters worse, his voice is really annoying. I'm sorry to have to say that, but the writing is bad to start with and he plays it in such a way that it's as if he's joking. He needs to reel it in so it's far less stereotypical. This show lacks any real story so it becomes difficult stay with it. It's as if there's no true foundation - it's just a bunch of scenes thrown together, all of which you've seen before and they're played with such camp - it diminishes the content further. There's really nothing new here. The dancers are all out of sync. The space seems a really poor choice for the show as well. You're looking down at it. It feels far more appropriate for a musical act than a theatrical performance. There's a few aerial acts that are fun and the trampoline portion is fun too...but the whole entire show is a very poor man's Cirque du Soleil. Based upon previous reviews, it sounds as if this show once had some real pizazz in an entirely different setting. They really need to step it up if they want to make a name for themselves outside of Burning Man. The writing needs to be tightened up, the story made more clear, the dancers need to work together...and these folks really need to hire a new director. The writers are all performers except for one who is their director. Sometimes you can be so close to the material that you can't see your way through the problems. I think these folks may fare better if they got a little outside help. Someone should call Darko Tresnjak. read more

before i begin, i must give thanks (a truly mighty thanks) to yelp and katie b. for arranging these amazing comp. tickets! finally, after too many years to mention, i know what it feels like to be a VIP! back to the cirque! i absolutely, unequivocally adored it. well, that's not absolutely accurate. i wasn't into the opening 5 minutes where the card shenanigans were going on, but as soon as the story kicked in and the acrobatics commenced, i was beyond enthralled. riveted by those marble torsos! engrossed by the ballerina on pointe! absorbed by that trampolining! captivated by all those aerial feats! seriously, for a girl who rises daily at 4:45 AM and is thus usually neatly ensconced between blankets around 8:00 PM to be so engaged and alert hours past her bedtime speaks volumes about the quality of this show. i loved the venue, but i could see if you were seated in the rafter part of the balcony, you'd probably not be as into the performances as those of us lucky enough to be in the front of the VIP section. not child-friendly, i would say, unless we're talking adolescents of the more edgy, goth variety. kind of cirque du soleil meets the dark side, which suits me just dandy. as in spiked cotton candy... anyhoo, a YELPTASTIC experience! ps--just wanted to add that we circumvented any parking fiasco by driving to the redline in north hollywood. took maybe 25 minutes and deposited us 6 or 7 blocks away, all for $6.00 round trip. :) read more

Don't waste your money..........Last years venue in China Town was awesome....this years show at Club Nokia was very disappointing.... * The Venue (Club Nokia) was way too small for this show * The carnival like atmosphere is completely gone * Parking was expensive ($10-$25) * No pre show band * No food * Overpriced bar serving weak drinks and warm beer * Expensive tickets for not so great seats, and not stadium style seating (I sat in the 2 middle section on the floor $92 a ticket) * Lack of vendors like in they had in the past (NO food, a few jewelry and a couple others) * The audio was not good ****The show seemed very unrehearsed and not well put together as it was in the past. Cirque Berzerk used to have a fun atmosphere, pre show, during the show and after the show....now it is boring and lacks atmosphere at all. The past years show was a grand spectacle but now it simply falls flat. It seems that the show is trying to be something it is not.....the show is not a Broadway play nor a Vegas strip show. If Berzerk wants to be one of those shows, they need a larger venue, like they use in Vegas or NY. I was so disappointed in the show that it prompted me to do my first review ever. In closing , don't waste your money on a show that has lost its way....either go to a Cirque du Soleil show for about the same price or simply wait till Cirque Berzerk goes back to its roots. read more

Great show..... they are returning in Jan; 2011 at Club Nokia. Presale started today; use password "Berzerk" to buy tickets before the general sale starts. ENJOY and wear your best Cirqueish costume. read more

This show was great!!! What a great alternative circus company!!!! They actually had a story as well as amazing acts. The acrobatics amazed me. The seats are close to the stage and it blew me away to sit and see the performers doing such amazing things up close. The music is great and it is really nice to see a live band and singers rocking with the show. The set and lighting are great as well. The band in the bar tent is great and we had a blast watching them! This is a great night out LA people. If you do not enjoy this event....check your pulse. read more

Fun show with amazing talent. The trampoline, contortioninst, the stilt walker, the 2-men dance/aerial, the woman on the silks, and the sailor dance with his lover were my favorite.... that's a lot of favorites for one show! The story may not have been completely tight, but I really did not care - it provided sufficient theme to performances and costumes. By the way, there is bit with the silk screens surrounding the stage that you just have to see. It was beautiful. I also liked the opportunity to hang out afterwards; it made it into an artistic and social *event* . The friendly performers, still sweaty and made up but beaming from under their heavy makeup, come out to mingle with the guests in the beer garden. I've heard this was their dream project; high five from me for making it happen! read more

Thanks Yelp for the first Elite event of the year! I throughly enjoyed I can't complain about my seats even though I was complaining about it while I was still in the VIP Lounge and had not seen that I would be seated dead center just high enough to see the whole stage and have perfect view of the acrobatics and low enough that I would not mistake the actors as being ants. You had that Cirque du Soleil feel with a Tim Burton twist to it. Credits is due for those performers because they made due with not a strong story to perform with but they performed their hearts out and my heart skipped a beat at some of their actions. My favorite parts has to be the four guys jumping on the trampoline, the two people in giant rings, the ribbon dancer and the performance by the main girl. They showed their skills quite well to the point where my jaw dropped. I need to take some yoga classes to gain that flexibility. I'll never get there, I might pull a muscles in the process but at least I know this show will be showing at Club Nokia so I could get some inspiration. I have to admit I had a little thing for the ribbon dancer who was dressed as a communist, oh so hot! review #599! read more

Talk about the circus gone creepy. If you're already scared of clowns, this will definitely frighten you... but in a good way. There are shops and food if you get there early, and then there is a long intermission for you to go outside and listen to the band outside for a while. Then after show, there band continues the party for another hour or so. It's definitely worth checking out once just to check out something different. And if you like to dress up, GO DRESSED UP. Everyone will assume you're just part of the cast... There were some pretty crazy outfits walking around. read more

I don't get why people are so hard on the show- especially if you take the time to think about what it takes to put something like that together! I think, given the homegrown nature of this production it is pretty damn amazing. The tent was cool- mostly great seats as far as I could tell, lively and helpful staff, and talented and hard-working performers. Yes, some were stronger than others, but it was refreshing to see the folks who were not as strong still out there pushing themselves in their craft and enjoying what they love. The stronger performers were truly breath-taking. Very dare-devil too! I was on the edge of my seat for many of the acts. I loved the two men sexy acrobatics, the trampoline act, and the sailor and his lost love acts the best- gorgeous. The bodies are HOT! I personally wasn't as into the cabaret gals, but that has more to do with my taste than their talent. I'm sure plenty of people would dig them. There was alittle bit of clowning, which was fun, and some darker themed dance pieces, which were also entertaining. I guess if you go, I recommend just letting yourself go to it, get into it. Don't judge- just enjoy! One more thing- the kettle corn was SO DELICIOUS!!! read more

So, here's the deal. If you're looking for an overproduced, corporate-controlled, soulless husk of its former self of a circus, wait for Cirque du Soleil to come back to town. If you want to support local artists in creating a new and truly unique circus vision that's pretty frickin great, get your ass downtown for Berzerk. I saw them last year and thought they were amazing and scary and fun and was a little afraid of what moving into a big tent would mean for them. And I will agree with some of the other reviewers that the story line is a bit undeveloped but, honestly, that doesn't really detract from the utter amazingness of these acts. I think some people were expecting haunted house scary and completely missed the sheer death-defyingness of some of the crazy s#$t that goes on on that stage. I have seen a bunch of circuses and circus acts and I was on edge of my seat scared out of my mind for the safety of some of these performers. There is a guy who hangs from one ankle directly over 2 girls like 20 feet below him. And I'm pretty sure one of the trampoline guys hit his head on the wall last night. Bat-s#$t crazy! Also, the band playing at the bar outside was pretty f-in' great as well. Really, all in all, a great night out, under the stars, downtown, in a park. And, with any luck, they'll do well enough to come back next year with something even bigger and better and crazier. read more

Trust me!!!! If you have seen KA, Mystere, Zumanity or O in Vegas, this show will not work for you. This show is for only people who have not seen cirque du soleil shows. I think that it is better to wait until KOOZA comes in this October in Santa Monica than seeing this. Now I can know... why cirque du soleil is so famous. read more

Very entertaining but felt somewhat short. I'm sure they'll add on additional acts as they move forward. They've very talented performers doing some amazing acrobatics that they make look easy but in reality is almost superhuman. On that note I heard the trapeze couple unfortunately got a divorce. He caught her in the act! read more