‘Knowledge’ is power for two Tork brothers

Roll up, roll up for Fort Point Theatre Channel’s carnival sideshow featuring … Well, Peter Tork! Just how did the sweetly gawky bassist for ’60s pop group the Monkees become involved in this production featuring comedians, burlesque artists, actors, as well as Tork’s Carny Band?

“My brother twisted my arm, basically,” says Tork, born Peter Thorkelson, who joins his brother Nick, a Boston-based cartoonist and artist, in this one-off neovaudevillian jug band.

“It’s turned out to be appreciatively more work than I imagined. I thought I’d just sit in and play a few tunes. Turns out I had to rehearse. Can you imagine that? What effrontery,” he jokes.

“Nick and I are trying to bring a little evil clown music to the mix. ... If you’ve ever read the books that ‘Cabaret’ was drawn from, ‘I Am A Camera’ by Christopher Isherwood, you’re talking about a strange and interesting vibe. Kurt Weill is the musician who exemplifies what we’re trying to do.”

Will that include a Weill-ian Monkees songs?

“I don’t think you could,” says Tork before adopting a German accent and singing slowly, “Take ze laarst train to Clarksville und I’ll meet you at ze station.”

linda.laban@metro.us