Theatre of Dreams: Madame Zingara's

"...our grass is greener on the other side, run away with us..."

May 3rd was a magical night. Literally -- magic. 

Dids and I got a phone call at 10am that day, asking if we'd be interested in attending the Madame Zingara show. My mind was fuzzy at the moment but I vaguely remembered hearing good things about it and thought, "why not?".

Funny how life has a way of unexpectedly throwing the most wonderful things your way.

Going into the evening, I had no idea what to expect --which always makes everything better! I love diving into movies and books blind because it allows the whole journey to be way more entertaining. The Madame Zingara show was no different.

I will never forget the awe and excitement I felt as Dids and I walked toward the venue. We turned the corner and the imposing front entrance of the show came into view. I was blown away. It was SO my scene. 

Down two flights of stairs sat a building that had been built to look like a vintage circus show. Warm yellow lights cast an eerie glow on the filigree facade that read "The Victoria", whilst a poetry-painted walkway and bare tree limbs decorated in shiny ornaments added to the whimsical feel.

Entrance at night

...and in daylight

As we walked down the stairs, I grew increasingly more excited. Everywhere I looked, my eyes set upon the most beautiful, quirky things.

And everyone knows -- I love me some quirk.  

Sitting directly in front of the entrance door was a garden littered with brightly-colored mini pumpkins and sand pails. Over top of it stretched a clothing line that was draped with mismatched sets of bras and panties.  

To the left sat a giant layered red heart, ringed in old fashioned light bulbs. Standing underneath the glow of the heart lights was a large black woman dressed to the nines in a red satin dress, full drag makeup, and smoking a cigarette cruella-de-vil-style. Ooh la la!

Ruth & her bf 

This girl was fierce!

Strings of fairy lights stretched overhead and were coupled with strung together yellow, red, white, and pink hand-made pennant scarves, painted with illegible script.

The atmosphere was at once both whimsical and charming. It was a page from my imagination. Think Moulin Rouge meets Alice in Wonderland. 

 It felt so french, so peculiar... SO. ME.

Ruth, Roxy, and Helen get ready to step inside!

Things only got more dazzling as we took our first steps inward. Roxy and I literally clung to one another in excited wonderment as we drank in the sights. 

Turns out the venue was far from a plain jane "building" like I originally thought -- it was a giant tent. 

The inside view of the vintage mirror tent. Stunning!

A mirror tent, to be exact. It is one of only a handful left in the world! It was originally made in Belgium in the 1920s out of canvas, wood, mirrors, and embellished with velvet and brocade. The top of the tent is surrounded by ornate stained glass panels and in the middle of the ceiling hangs a 6 foot pink heart that is lit from within. 

Red velvet canopies drape along the ceiling and gathered maroon fabric line the walls. Intimate dark wood booths ring the outer edge of the tent anchored by tall golden rods that are shaped to look like carousel posts.   White-linen tables continue the circular pattern towards the center wherein sits a petite yet striking circular stage lit by a glaring spotlight.

Every table is adorned in chocolates and centerpieces constructed out of synthetic roses, foliage, and fruit which are finally topped with a --yes, you read correctly-- party-dressed Barbie positioned naughtily. The booths ringing the luxurious tent are accented and lit exclusively by one single candlestick, sitting three feet high in a Victorian silver holder, dramatically dripping wax all down its side as the night progresses. 

This heart bench set behind the dinner tables was the scene for many photo ops with characters from the show

This Barbie centerpiece is relatively tame.. ours wasn't exactly so politically correct...

The feeling was detailed, old-school, quirky glamor. It was faboosh, I'm telling you. 

Each server was dressed up in costume, adding to the overall feeling of drama and fancifulness. We saw a mad hatter, complete with a tower of velvet hats, green silk jacket, and kooky makeup... a man dressed up in a maid outfit wearing 3 inch heels and a blonde bouffant... a mad nurse in green scrubs paired with a yellow afro wig and piled-on jeweled necklaces...a tramp with long orange hair and top hat... and our waiter, who was a glamorous nerd with heart-stamped suspenders who could dance the pants off of anyone with a heartbeat. 

Roxy poses with the Mad Hatter. He was a fan of walking around tables, clapping loudly and eerily singing out "laaa la la laaa laaaa" whilst locking eye contact with you as he passed by.  

The fact that the staff were dressed to the nines in drag and/or playful Rocky Horror-esque outfits added so much to the night. It completed the overall look and feel of the show. It truly felt like no detail was overlooked. 

My favorite part was that the crowd dressed up too. Everyone is encouraged to come in outrageous costume. Sadly, Dids and I didn't know this beforehand -- or else you know I would have been all over that!! Alternatively, you also have the option of visiting their tiny costume boutique inside. 

The store itself was set off to the left and cramped into a corner. It essentially melded into the side of the tent and as such, didn't stick out awkwardly as you might expect such a thing to do in a velvet circus tent. The store was positively bursting with a collection of the perfect mad-teacup party accessories. It was wonderful! Silly string, eye glitter, carnival masks, felt fedoras, neon wigs, glow in the dark lipstick, feather boas, fishnet arm stockings, sequined head bands... it was endless! And so freakin' fun! 

Poking around the costume boutique and finding a treasure to wear was half the fun!

Seriously, when was the last time you sat in a vintage circus tent with drag queens, naughty barbie dolls, and fully grown adults donning masks, wigs, and glitter?!! Flipping amazing. The vibe was incredible. Everyone was loose and ready for a night of fun. 

Cheers to night straight out of my fantasies :) 

The show itself was breathtaking: burlesque, comedy, and stunning circus acts all rolled into one giant evening of "spectacular spectacular!".

It began with a little person in a conical bra/queen outfit and from there it covered everything from an aerial artist swinging (literally) from the chandelier, to Ukrainian strong men, to Mongolian contortionists, to big black singers belting it out Dreamgirls-style, to roller skating Russians who defied gravity with their stunts on the circular stage. And did I mention the long-standing DJ of the show is Canadian?! :) Yep. 

The singing divas stole the show with "Big Mama"

Dids' favorite act of the night: the comedic midget 

Chandelier aerialist 

Sorry this picture isn't great -- but it's of the couple on roller skates. The chick is swinging in circles from a loop that her head's been placed which is attached to his neck. 

The food was equally as fantastic. It was a five course meal that was served throughout the show. It began with a quaint cup of soup coupled with a smattering of breadsticks and pates, and went all the way to heart-shaped pasta, chocolate and chili beef & wasabi potatoes, and ended with a trio (trio!) plate of scrumptious desserts. Oh and I can't forget the champagne. Yum-yum-YUM. 

The best part of the show was the host, Cathy Specific. Why? 'Cause who wouldn't love a 6'2" sassy drag queen air hostess!

I kid you not. This chick (errr... guy?) was unreal. Her lines were snappy, saucy, and full of sexual innuendos. She had everyone eating out of the palm of her hand. My favorite part was towards the end, when she strips down to a skin tight bodice and catwalks around the stage, making eyes and suggestive gestures to the men in the front row. Finally she points to one and winks, saying "Mmm aren't you cute"... and then backs up, gestures to his crotch and goes, "I know what he's thinking: (in a loud, bitchy yell) WHERE THE FUCK DOES HE PUT IT?!!". LOL

Another fabulous touch was the gargoyle.

They had a dude dressed in this amazing gargoyle suit who originally sits on a small platform near the entrance. When you first walk in, he reaches out to touch you or gets your attention by staring at you and cocking his head at uncomfortable angles. 

Well. Once the show started, so did he.

Gargoyle-man pays a visit to our table and causes quite a stir!

He'd leap onto your table. Show up over your shoulder, sitting on the booth divider. Or simply creep underneath your table and grab your thigh. It was terrifying and hilarious all at once! The booze only added to the scary delight of the wandering gargoyle. 

By the end of the show, the whole place was glowing. It was clear that people were loving being in costume, loving the entertainment, and totally plugged into the vampy, laissez-faire attitude of the night.  The last group of songs had everyone up on their feet dancing -- on booths, chairs, the stage, aisles. It didn't matter. Our waiter was right up there with the lot of them on the main stage! haha. It seriously, hands-down was the best party atmosphere of any public show, concert, or party that I have ever been to. 

The main stage gets crammed with dancing fools from the audience ;)

The show went until 11:30pm but we stayed for about and hour afterwards. The brilliant thing is that Madame Zingara's sets up an entire outdoor lounge area so that the party can continue on into the night! The mirror tent stays open too, but the outdoor set-up was too cute to pass up. 

They created an area beside the tent with colorful aluminum-painted stalls that you would see at a carnival. One had a fortune teller, while another housed a pool table where we found the performers hanging out after the show. The was a vintage looking bar decorated with rustic bar stools in studded white leather, an old-school fridge from the 60s, and various cases of bottled Coca Cola.  

They wound white Christmas lights around the large tree trunks that sprouted in the open area and everything was softly spot-lit in pink and white. Garbage cans were lovingly painted with colorful painted hearts and wooden picnic tables covered in faded vinyl tablecloths with giant lemons were scattered around. It was all very vintage-y feeling. 

Pictures do not -- cannot -- properly do it justice. 

Needless to say, that night ended with Tiffany having a Barbie doll strapped to her white and gold mask on her head, Roxy looking like a "1820s settler", and Didier sporting a mini top hat with feather! I was just happy to have had such a wonderfully quirky place to debut my new pink brocade jacket :) 

This picture pretty much sums up the night for Tiffany ;)

Tiff and Rox "vogue" it up

Dids and I sat outside with the group (as Tiff took swigs of wine straight from the bottle -- a bottle she randomly found forgotten on some stranger's table!) for a while before heading home. We later found out that the rest of the girls stayed until 1:30am and chatted up the performers enough that they got a sneak peek of backstage! Darn. Sad of have missed out on that, but it was a school night after all.

All in all -- it was one of my most cherished nights in South Africa. It was certainly something I will never forget and seek out should it ever pass through North America. 

What a night!! And with amazing booth seats to boot!

Wouldn't you want to indulge in a night of eccentric and outrageous Madame Zingara entertainment??

**N.B: Certain pictures taken from http://www.madamezingara.com/ **