Many say that the tragic story of Jake “The Snake” Roberts was the inspiration for The Wrestler, a notable exception being director Darren Aronofsky. Nonetheless, when the film became a success, the Snake’s phone started to ring. People wanted to deal. People are vultures, but they have business opportunities. Roberts took a chance with an entertainer who wanted to tell his life story as a strange stage show with a python and a fist fight. That entertainer was Jim Rose. The Snake said okay. Jim Rose is the leader of a ragtag band of miscreants who stick needles and whatnot into ... well, you know all about that. What’s behind the match-up? Turns out the Snake and Rose are old pals, and that’s kind of adorable. Now, after the purchase of a $63,000 albino Burmese python named Maurice Le Grand, The Jim Rose Circus vs. Jake the Snake Roberts is in the midst of a 13-show West Coast run, guest starring Sinn Bohdi (WWE name Kizarney) and Bebe the Circus Queen. We don’t know what to expect, exactly, but it wouldn’t hurt to be ready to rumble.
Thu., July 16, 7:30 p.m., 2009
