The One and Only, Matthew Silver

You might know Matthew Silver. Odds are you’ve seen him walking the streets of Bushwick in an assortment of different costumes, carrying on with one of his savant-like personages, interacting with passersby. Impossible not to notice, Silver has become a fixture of the neighborhood, spouting everything from sage adages to seemingly nonsensical phrases. This is why when I found out about Silver’s “Circus of Dreams,” a bimonthly night of “entertainment mixed with art and  awkwardness stretched to it’s breaking point,” every other Wednesday at Bizarre Bar I knew I had to go.  Not to disappoint, every inch of “Circus of Dreams” is packed with the odd, the off-putting and even the strangely glamorous.

Merrie Cherry Jason Daniels took the stage

While I typically tend to steer clear of tired cliches like “down the rabbit hole,” I truly do not know how else to describe the captivating and marvelous world that is Matthew Silver’s “Circus.” The event, presented by House of Screwball, brings you into Silver’s head and tends to play out like a stream of conscious narrative completely controlled by Silver’s ID.

A tender moment between emcees Matthew Silver and Josh Berserkowitz

The night opened with Silver and co-emcee for the evening Josh “Berserkowitz” took the stage to the Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out,” dressed as unruly pups. In true canine form, the two began growling, barking, and eating from bowls of dog food on the stage.  From this auspicious beginning, I knew that this was Silver’s world, and we are merely confederates along for the wacky ride.