Multimedia Cabaret Meets the Paranormal in P-Town

By: iO Staff, June 4, 2012

June 7th 1894 – A mysterious troop of performers materialized in a small fishing village at the tip of the Cape Cod. For a measly ten cents, the townspeople bought tickets to the “FUN HOUSE” known as ABRAKADABRA. What they witnessed that night shocked the stoic little community. But by morning, the carnival had vanished with out a trace.

June 7th 2012 – More than 100 years later, a newspaper clipping from the Provincetown Banner of 1894 reporting the incident was found on the desk of the town manager, along with an invitation. It read, "You are cordially invited to spend the evening behind the doors of ABRAKADABRA's visually stunning haunted attraction. What awaits you is an amorous ensemble of human ‘Divining Rods’ who serve as your guides through a Victorian labyrinth of terror and wonder."

 

Tristan DiVincenzo's erotically charged thrill ride, ABRAKADABRA (2012) is a mystical “HALL OF MIRRORS.” Part burlesque cabaret, part séance, ABRAKDABRA's thirteen death-defying, Pavlovian performances tell a story of a medicine show caught in a window of time, racing against the chimes of a clock to tell their story, before its too late. 

“It's a non-stop collision of culture, nightlife, music, and mystical imagery,” says Executive Producer David Flower.

Five ingenious characters take the audience through a visually stunning "paranormal" misadventure. The team conducts a full-on spiritualist investigation, utilizing an uncommon approach: their talents. The experiments combine burlesque theater, live vocals, circus arts, and vaudeville comedy, which combine to create entertainment that is unlike anything else in town.

This new production from DiVincenzo is a voyage through a junkyard of forgotten seaside fantasies. A riveting fusion of live music, film, dance and unforgettable performances create a spectacular visceral experience.

“Provincetown is a little seaside village, which has developed, in part, as an escape from the ordinary world. What most people don't know is that it is believed to be one of the most haunted places in the world. I wanted to create a hidden hangout that reveals the town's more mysterious and sensuous side,” DiVincenzo says.

The result is a seductive twist on classic parlor room trickery. The show’s expressive design captures the essence of our childhood fears, transcends reality, and reminds us of the fragile beauty of human nature.

Supporting and magnifying the shows visually fantastic montage of multi-layered projections is Gerald Goode’s ultra-lush score and Matthew Donnelly's interactive costume pieces, which magically transport the audiences to the heart of DiVincenzo’s poetic inner world.  With the help of surround sound and a state-of-the-art video interface, ABRRAKADABRA’s world unfolds with extraordinary power and intensity.

Refurbished Velvet

Partnering with Saki to rebrand and redesign the first floor of 258 Commercial Street, Velvet has undergone a makeover over the winter as a high-end lounge and cabaret.

Red velvet wall coverings, flourishes of gold leaf, overstuffed Victorian furniture and a wooden bar that offers artisanal cocktails, served seat-side during the show, add to the atmosphere of indulgence.

Velvet’s season includes nightly DJs, live music, and ABRAKADABRA, running Thursday through Sunday.

 

** A WARNING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC **

This show is not intended for the socially repressed, squeamish, or weak of heart, BUT is one event this summer you may never forget! ABRAKADABRA is for adults 21 and over.