Just Do It

Olde City Sideshow

by Andrew Amundson

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Fri, March 13, 9 p.m., free, National Mechanics, 22 S. Third St., 215-701-4883, oldecitysideshow.com

In terms of showmanship, there's old school and then there is olde school. The Olde City Sideshow troupe, made up of Danny Borneo, The Suicide King and Bügmünchér, are clearly advocates of the latter. Borneo claims to be a descendent of the "Wild Men of Borneo," two brothers who acted in P.T. Barnum's freak show. He performs a "human blockhead" routine, during which power drills, switchblades and other undesirables find their way up his nose. The Suicide King lifts weights with his eyelids, while Bügmünchér lies on a bed of nails and, as her moniker suggests, eats insects.

The Olde City Sideshow members may swallow swords and put out propane flames on their tongues, but they're far from Nitro Circus shock jocks or YouTube pranksters. "Our goal is not to gross out the audience but to amaze," says Borneo. "It has the feeling of an old-time variety show."

Emcee, Athena Onatopp, of the Hellcat Girls Burlesque show, will be demanding audience participation — you can stand atop Bügmünchér as she sits on nails, help crush a cement block on Suicide King's chest or simply dance along to the organ music.