The New Center for Blacklight Variety Arts treated audience members to a performance fit for a blackout. The Technomania Circus is a truly one-of-a-kind performance troupe in San Francisco, and this side of the galaxy for that matter, that features blacklight illusion, performance art, traditional circus faire and choreographed dance as an artistic expression. If you're still in the dark over what's so amusing about the Technomania Circus, then you need to experience this offbeat venue for yourself.

According to Technomania ringleader Dr. Techno, the vast range of diverse talents that comprise this circus group provide a synergistic program that gives spectators a reason to smile. "We desire to spread the message of smile induction therapy and believe there's a little circus in all of us," said the doctor. "By recognizing and using our differences positively we produce performances that are pure magic to behold."

CelaFire, who founded the performance group in San Diego circa 1998, brings to the show a seductive improv dance that relies on timing more than anything. "In blacklight, the costumes are very important, but you want the illusion and images to come forth at the right moment for the audience," she said. My favorite performance of this cosmic temptress was what appeared to be the Neon Gypsy Dance of the Outer Limits, an other-than-earthly improv where CelaFire tantalized audience members with her glow-string lasso.

Alien Girl No. 34 handled the blacklight puppet acts, bringing drama, dance and slapstick to the cutest little extraterrestrials ever to grace the puppet stage.

Willy Bologna, the vulgarian clown, brought dowdy circus acts and laughs to the audience while juggling rubber chickens and walking a tightrope between two folding chairs. His trained flea circus, "Circus d' Flea", which he claims is San Francisco's only flea circus, included a nail-biting routine where star performer "Fleavel Knievel" rides his fleamobile through the Firey Hoop of Death! A must see performance ... if you can only get close enough to see the little parasites.

Tobias, the sword and neon tube swallower, did just that ... with no slight of hand. With any luck, this will become the next trendy thing to do at dance clubs.

Just when the audience thought they had seen it all, the show's finale took the performance to new and unrealized heights with a negative striptease dance by Dr. Techno, who stripped off his glow-in-the-dark garb until he disappeared. It's truly an amazing little show patched together with a lot of preparation and homemade imagination.

As stirring and otherworldly as the blacklight performance itself, the electronica band i-er-er-ah! provided experimental waves in sound composition that loosened up the small audience prior to the show while popping in musical interludes between various skits.

Dr. Techno, also known as Bruce Cartier, moved from San Diego to the city in 2001 and has been producing the Technomania Circus since. He said his greatest challenge is bringing together the many talents of the performers while smoothing out the show's rough edges. "We're always trying to make sure that the illusion remains true to its form," he said. "We are always playing and rehearsing in front of a mirror to get the illusion right."