‘Side Show’ At Bruka Theatre

“Come Look at the Freaks; come explore why they fascinate you, exasperate you, and flush your cheeks.” 
“Side Show” is the story of two women who lived as one but found life fraught with predators.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

Side Show, The Story

Side Show is the story of the conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. The Hilton Sisters were famous in the 1930s as an attraction in circuses and Vaudeville.

As Side Show opens, we see the Hilton Sisters as the main attraction in a traveling circus. As the circus travels through Texas, the sisters are discovered by Terry, a man from the Orpheum circuit, and Buddy, a song-and-dance man. These two are determined to free the girls from their guardian and bring them to Vaudeville.

The story of the Hilton Sisters’ early life is told in this musical with no holds barred, describing the difficult childhood that the sisters endure. Being abandoned by their birthmother and taken advantage of from that moment forward, the sisters found that they could only rely on each other for comfort.

Don’t get the impression that Side Show is a somber play; it is more of a romantic play with the elements of love and desire as a thread throughout the story. It is all the more powerful because it is based on truth.

Side Show is plot-heavy storytelling that will leave you emotionally moved and extremely entertained.

Check out this slide show of some photos from Side Show.

What About the Performances

The cast is terrific, splendidly lending themselves to the songs, dance, and story.

So, let’s start with Sophie Moeller and Alexandria Pauletto, who play Daisy and Violet Hilton. These are indeed challenging roles; Moeller and Pauletto are literally joined to each other, dancing, singing, and performing in unison. Moeller and Pauletto are dazzling, in sync with each other, yet simultaneously showing their individual characters’ uniqueness.

Jeff Chamberlain plays Terry Connor; Terry is the man who discovers the sisters and starts them on their journey in Vaudeville and the movies. Chamberlain is convincing as this larger-than-life character and effectively portrays Connor’s conflict convincingly.

Adam Semas plays Buddy Foster, the song-and-dance Man. He is excellent in this role and gives the audience a look into his character’s complex personality. Semas is a joy to watch as he performs the dance numbers.

Michael Smith III, plays Jake, the man who takes care of the Hilton sisters and has done so since Sir brought them to the circus. Smith’s character, Jake, is torn between his desire for what he wants and fulfilling his duties to the sisters. Smith is terrific in this role and brings much emotion to his songs.

Andy Luna plays Sir, the villain in the Side Show. Luna is a thoughtful actor who takes this role as his own. Sir’s single-mindedness and unapologetic use of the sisters is at the forefront of Luna’s portrayal.

Evan Gadda deserves a special shout-out. Gadda plays the Judge who sets the Hilton Sisters free from Sir’s control. Gadda has himself seen more than his share of challenges. His desire to be on stage and perform has outweighed the many difficulties life has given him, and seeing him on stage playing a part in such an important story is an inspiration.

The rest of the cast is quite busy, each with a character to portray and perform in the ensemble. Each of these actors takes their part and plays it with joy and passion.

There is also a live band that brings the music to the story. Performing seamlessly, the band brings the essential element of live music to live theater.

All of these performers have worked very hard for months to bring this play to the stage. It is performers who make Side Show the must-see performance of this Artown season.

The Bottom Line

Side Show is quite the undertaking for Bruka Theatre and the performers and crew who bring this historic story to the stage. What they offer to the audience is remarkable and should not be missed.

There is more, though. This is an important historical story of a time when we were not quite as kind to others as we would like to be. Side Show is the story of two women born into difficult circumstances who find a way to support each other even as others around them take advantage.

As I write, Artown for 2024 has yet to start, but Side Show will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of our month-long celebration of the arts.