Last night I had the pleasure of attending the new Teatro Zinzanni show, “Hail Caesar! Forbidden Oasis” in a historic spiegeltent. I opened the doors into the lobby and right away was greeted by costumed staff who show you to your seats in the vintage red velvet tent. We opened with a glass of bubbly and a small appetizer.

Seated at a large booth with several other couples, it was fun to get to know each other during breaks and felt like being at a big party. One were celebrating an anniversary, the other a birthday, and the third was just there for a fun night out.

The show got underway with a waitress on the chandelier.

The night moved into a vaudeville act, complete with a soup dance by the staff, which involved actual soup, our second course. Just as I was thinking the act was not as acrobatic as I expected, Cleopatra did a mesmerizing aerial show, during which the circus tent went quiet.  We all stopped our tipsy chatter and just watched her spin high up above our heads.

Next up, Chef Caesar, our host, pulled a few ‘volunteers’ from the audience for some improvisational ribbing. If you are shy, sit in the back! After the main course, the show moved into high gear with great hula hoop number (trust me, it was awesome), trapeze and acrobatic acts, along with more song and dance. You can sing along with The Bangles ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ or some Frank Sinatra like my table did.

The food courses arrived during breaks in the show, so you don’t feel like you are missing anything to stop and eat. My only quibble is that although the food was good, I had higher expectations. It was nothing bad, but a bit banquet-y.  The entrée is not served until around 9:00 pm. Although you do have soup, salad and a small appetizer beforehand, it is a late dinner. Dessert felt a bit rushed as it came out right as the performers took a bow around 10:00. Just saying, maybe have a snack before you leave home at 6:00.

I had a great time at Teatro Zinzanni, as did all those around me. I am certainly looking forward to going back, especially with visitors from out of town. This is certainly an experience you won’t get in most of the country. One of the best parts of the evening was where everyone got up and did a slow dance with their partners under the dark blue and sparkly white lights, a moment that made the whole night magical.

Tickets and more show info, here.

Disclaimer: Teatro Zinzanni provided Seattle Pockets guest reviewer with two comps to see the show. As always, free doesn’t affect our opinions and reviews.