FRIDAY

Zamora, the Torture King. It is exactly what it sounds like: an old-school, circus-style, one-man freak show. He sent me a video of his latest program, Beyond Belief, but, honestly, after seeing the photos, I was almost afraid to watch. The man sticks skewers through his arms, jumps up and down on broken glass, and sets himself on fire. He swallows string and then cuts a hole in his stomach to pull it out. He’s a mystic, a modern primitive, and he does all that normal circus stuff, too—fire-eating, sword swallowing, walking on a bed of nails. From what I’ve seen, it’s guaranteed that someone will faint as Zamora continues his crusade to revive medieval stunts. Whether or not you witnessed his performances with the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, see for yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Go with an empty stomach at 10 p.m. at the Metro Cafe, 1522 14th St. NW. $7. (202) 518-7900. (Holly Bass)