It was my first time seeing them live and of course uncensored. (I had previously seen them on TV where they couldn't do everything they do in their live show).
So I was looking forward to the second time around which this time was a treat from me to Jen for our 6 year anniversary.
I was thinking 'Oh no, will I find it as good as the first time?'
So as we arrived, Camp Dracula and one of the girls were stood upstairs "greeting" people and selling brochures. I say "greeting" because they didn't say hello or welcome, it was straight away, "These are £5" which I found quite rude to be honest, even though I said "How do?" as soon as I was near them.
Granted it may have been a bad day or whatever other excuse, but that's the point, there should be no excuse for bad manners, especially in a job such as that.
We got in, sat down, waited.
As people started to flood in, Camp was skulking about and watching people. Every now and again stopping for a photo and talking to people. (Jen and I were in the middle of a row so had no chance of talking).
Eventually the show started.
There was the usual lot of acrobatics, the two blonde girls hoisted up off the floor doing what I can only call 'their thing'. It was unfortunate that this was what we saw most of throughout the night as although very impressive, once you've seen it, even a year ago, it's still the same.
There was the girl in the jar, always topless for some reason, this time wearing tape in the shape of a cross over her nipples and a nuns headdress on.
And Hannibal Helmurto who swallows swords.
But the highlight of the first half was the terrible knife thrower.
Jesus, Jen and thought. Every time he threw a knife at the woman on a board, he was going to stab her. At one point (I believe in the second half) he was extremely close to her flesh with one knife which was on fire. Most of the knives he threw didn't stick in the board either so when he threw one above the girl, if it hadn't stuck in the board, she could have been hurt rather badly. If it's strong enough to stick in wood, it's strong enough to stick in flesh.
I hear you say "It may be hard to be a knife thrower, and Adie surely you're being too harsh"
Maybe so, but if you can't stick every knife into the wood, or at least the majority, christ almighty you shouldn't be throwing anything sharp at people until you've had more practice.
But then who knows, that night might have just been a bad night for him.
(He was also trusted with a whip.....)
I can't really remember anything else from the first half because it was so compact within an hour. It was soon clear as to why when the second half began.
Of course because of the male nudity within the show, the girl from the bottle/jar had to woo the men by revealing her breasts at the end of the striptease.
There was no balancing act like last year, but there was the 4 dancing dudes who do a lot of acrobatics. I can't remember what they were called for the life of me.
And of course the blonde girls again, this time with curtains. And the God awful knife thrower.
It was a shame that there was so much acrobatics and prancing about instead of focusing on what the other people can do. I'm sure with a little thinking, they could set up something even more spectacular than the show already is.
A bit more illusion and smoke and mirrors, get a magician in there or something and don't have the first half feel compressed and rushed.
But then it isn't my show. And I and everyone else was happy with what we did get.
The story took a back seat too compared to the first time around. This time I had no idea what the hell it was about. It was mentioned at the beginning and briefly throughout but obviously it leads to the same places every as other story they do.
I honestly don't see the point in them doing a story unless it adds something new to the show.
The only one I think that did was 'The Ventriloquist' which had a dummy. I unfortunately haven't seen that one though.
So in all, it was still a brilliant night which we had a lot of fun at.
It was just a shame most of the focus was on the acrobats instead of the freakish acts.
But it was funny when Doc Haze (the host) was acting creeped out by Gary Stretch's skin.
I still 100% recommend you go see it. Even after the first time it's still amazing.