"Oh. My. God. Oh my God. OhmyGodOhmyGodOhmyGodOooooohhhmyGod."
I went on a date with my husband the other night, and I'm afraid I sounded a little bit like a broken record.
No, we weren't doing that (as much as he wishes I'd be writing as much here). We went to see Teatro ZinZanni's Dinner at Wotan's.
I'd been to see ZinZanni once before, for their kid-geared musical matinee In Tents, and that was a nice show with a couple of wow moments mixed in with a lot of stuff to please the shorties. But I'd never seen a ZinZanni show that catered to adults. Dinner at Wotan's blends some of Teatro ZinZanni's signature gravity-defying acts (the stuff I was Oh-my-God-ing about) with a cabaret-style rock-classical music mishmash, a wacky story line built around Ragnarök and a slightly steamy vibe.
My husband loved the comic riffs on eighties rock ballads (hello, Queen) and the pork belly appetizer. I loved the wine flights and the chance to ogle former longtime Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Ariana Lallone up close. Other highlights included chanteuse Anki Albertsson, contortionist Christopher Phi, and the astounding team Vertical Tango.
And we both loved the insane talent of the cirque acts. At one point, while I was hissing "How do they do that?" under my breath, my husband responded, "That's just their thing." And we're lucky that twisting into a pretzel, doing a lover's dance while somersaulting up a pole, and riding a unicycle on a rope casually enough to keep a smirk upon the face is somebody's thing. Because those seemingly impossible talents are pretty fun to watch, especially as your own particularly un-limber body fills up on a heady mix of well-prepared food, all-healing drink and a bizarre-yet-cool Norse god/caravan vibe.
ZinZanni shows are presented in a 1910 cabaret tent (known as a spiegeltent). Imported from Belgium, the spiegeltent is nicknamed the Moulin Rouge. Guests are seated restaurant-style in this unique venue, and the action of the show takes place throughout the circular structure, giving it an intimate and lush feel.
The show sells youth matinee tickets but as mentioned, there's a mildly steamy vibe so I would consider it PG (matinee info here). If you are looking for a fun parents-night-out date (not doing dates? Maybe you should ask yourself why), Dinner at Wotan's is a unique experience you will remember for a long time to come.
If you go ...
When/where: Dinner at Wotan's plays at Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle through May 12, 2013.
Tickets: Dinner Show tickets start at $108. Matinee show tickets start at $50/youth (matinee $20 special), $86/adults.
Discounts available for seniors, military, and students. Buy online or at 206-802-0015.
Matinee shows: On March 10, April 14 and May 12, you can see a shorter (2.5-hour) version of Wotan's. You can get $20 tickets for kids ages 12 and under, including a special kids' meal. $86–$111 for adults. 11:30 a.m.; doors open at 11 a.m. Call to book kids' price.
