Dinner served with a dash of dreams
MADAME Zingara isn’t called the Theatre of Dreams for nothing.
And many learnt this the fun way on Thursday, on an evening out with the Zingara team.
The Celebration is the latest incarnation of the popular supper theatre, held in an elaborate, specially constructed space — a “Spiegelpaleis”— opposite the Cape Town City Hall.
This is their 15th-anniversary production.
From the moment the guests entered the three-storey mirrored palace, they were mesmerised. Inside the impressive Victorian-styled structure is a world of make-believe, performance art and a staggering 3 200 mirrors, 800m of velvet and 1 200m of gold tassels.
Guests enjoyed the complimentary face painting and poked around excitedly through an assortment of hats, masks, fascinators, wings, costume jewellery, feather boas and stick-on moustaches to camp up their outfits before heading for their tables.
SABC3’s Afternoon Express presenter Bonnie Mbuli looked ravishing in a cream lace dress that showed off her long model legs as she schmoozed through the packed lobby. Newbie celeb TV presenter and producer Danilo Acquisto was so friendly and a joy to chat to, he’s the epitome of the “new broom sweeps clean” as far as celeb circles go. Acclaimed playwright and musician David Kramer was also in the audience, of course wearing his signature pork-pie hat. He was clearly enjoying the evening with his wife and fellow theatre producer, Renaye, and writer and columnist Marianne Thamm.
Without giving too much away, if you are up for a night of theatre and fun, be ready to gasp at the incredible acrobats, and get set to chuckle until your stomach hurts when host Cathy Specific starts doing her thing.
Oh, and remember to go on an empty stomach, as a ticket also gets you a delightful three-course meal.