There’s simply no time to adjust when you arrive at Madame Zingara’s . . . these guys want you to have fun, and they aren’t taking no for an answer. As you approach the magnificent old tent, lights gleaming in the night sky, strange and wonderful characters appear as if out of nowhere, welcoming you with a twisted smile and cheeky quip or two.
My cousin Andrew and I were seated at table 69, right at stage side . . . I’ll leave you to spot the problem. Let me just say that the jokes and innuendo were coming thick and fast from all quarters.
Before too long, a bizarre cast of weird and wonderful folk (the Zingara’s team of entertainers, waiters and generally strange but likeable creatures) came streaming past . . . Robinson Crusoe’s Friday was there (see the picture below), there was a Roman legionary decked out in all his finery, a full suited gorilla, some “Siamese” twins, a fire breathing cat, sensational showgirls, a medieval page boy, a scrooge like character who acted as a ring master of sorts and some tantalising chamber maids.
The strangest character on the scene for me, was a human lizard of sorts, who made a habit of sneaking up on you, climbing the tents poles and generally freaking people out. All in the name of fun.
Hello sailor!
For dinner, we were served by the beautiful and on the ball Tarryn, who was dressed up as some sort of sailor. It’s not often I get to have a full-blown rave on The Ridge Online, but the four-course meal we were served on the night was the best I’ve had in Durban in years. Bearing in mind that the Zingara’s team churns out hundreds of these, and ferries them to the tables in a matter of 10 minutes max, it’s an extremely commendable enterprise. I’m not going to go into the details of all we had to eat, suffice to say that it was most excellent and the mains (chilli chocolate fillet and lightly seared linefish in sesame seeds) were served at the right temperature and cooked to perfection. Amazing.
Exceptional
For entertainment, look again to the weird, the wonderful, the bizarre and the exceptional. The entire evening hinges on the performances of The Original Tons, four voluptuous, unashamedly sensual and talented soul singers, who get the party going with their disco-soul style musical feast.
In between the music come the performers: rollerblading gymnasts, three petite young ladies (who I believe hail from Mongolia) who perform strange body contortions, beautiful high wire tricksters, a pair of Russian gymnasts who showcase their strength and amazing technique, plus a rapper-come-poet who brings a contemporary edge to proceedings. It’s all rather bewildering and extraordinary . . . and guests dress up, which only adds to the carnival atmosphere.
A diversion to Zingara’s is like a trip into a parallel world, where anything is possible, and you strip away the woes and burdens of the real world, layer by layer. But enough of a rave now, get off your butt and go see the show. You won’t regret it. – By Garth Johnstone
Ticketing info: Tickets from R350 to R450. For bookings contact Madame Zingara’s box office on 0861 ‘MADAME’ or 0861 623 263. E-mail enquiries to boxoffice@madamezingara.com or visit the website for more information.