Barbara Lawlor, Rollinsville. The main street of Rollinsville was quiet Saturday night, crisp and cold, people gathered inside. Then a raucous shout shattered the night.

"Yaow! Go girl!" followed by more shrieks of approval. The Bizarre Bizarre's Big Top Variety Show at the Stage Stop Inn had begun and the hoots and hollers were just beginning.

This was the third Variety Show that Stage Stop owner Heather Hatwan has presented free to the mountain crowd, who like to have some bawdy fun and be entertained by some amazingly talented, strong athletes who fly over the stage on fabric and twirl on hoops and hang from ropes.

There was something for everybody; some of the acts were not for everybody: the kind where it’s best to leave the kids at home.

First on the stage was music by Alpha Fisher, who had the voice of an angel or a devil, a soprano or a deep bass, with the ability to raise goose bumps as she rippled through her repertoire. An uncommon talent sharing her heart with the Stage Stop audience.

The bawdy bits started out with stuffy women in Victorian outfits, large hats, feathers, long skirts, and gloves mincing across the stage looking at the audience from under heavy lashes until the music changes. And then the layers came off. The Burlesque dancers were fun and funny and good natured and so was the crowd—mostly women.

Miss Dirty Duvel, Deirdre Von Derriere, and Surlie Temple were introduced by Danny Oh! who was a cabaret act in herself.

The aerial artists then took the stage and soon climbed whatever equipment they were using to ceiling height and began their gymnastics in space. The spotlight caught their action as they did the seemingly impossible.

Their sinewy bodies floated above the audience as they performed. One used bright red silk scarves, another twisted around a hoop and Danny Oh! pretzeled herself using only a rope.

The aerial dancers are instructors at Miraas Aerials in Denver, which opened in  2009.

Hatwan says she plans to host another Variety Show in March.