The extraordinary Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams arrived at Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, Durban in June for a brand new run which the organisers promised would be even more spectacular than the last. And they’ve certainly delivered on their promises (See link to review below).
Audiences can once again enjoy fine cuisine while relishing a season of thrilling new cirque and burlesque shows featuring performers from aound the globe.
While audiences are wowed by the brilliant performers on stage, another talented troupe of 30 staff are busy creating 420 dishes, four times a night, that must be delivered to hungry customers within tight windows between the acts.
The main course is a choice of three dishes from a set menu and all are served to the high standards for which the extravaganza is renowned. There is no margin for error. How does this mobile kitchen manage to serve 1 660 dishes night after night, under intense pressure, to such a high level? What does it take to pull off a feat behind the scenes, as incredible as the show itself?
“It all begins a full 10 hours before the guests arrive,” explains Head Chef Grethel Ferreira. “Staff spend the day prepping everything so there are no mistakes. Then once the guests arrive, the biggest challenge is timing. Food goes out in sequence with the show times so we simply cannot be late. Getting more than 1 600 servings out between the acts is like a choreographed performance of its own, that the audience doesn’t see. It too, must be perfect.”
Military operation
Preparation for the pasta course alone illustrates how strict this military operation is. “It takes three minutes to place the bowls down, two minutes to place the pasta, and two minutes to add the sauce. The kitchen manager calls the food per table and the plates are placed for the waiters to take to the customers.”
The team takes a well-earned 15-minute break to reset their areas while the waiters clear the tables and bring dirty plates back to the scullery to wash and pack away.
The second act of the show starts and during this time the meat, fish and vegetarian options are prepared for the main course. With the same precision as the pasta course, a choreographed operation leaps into action, timed to the second, as plates are put down, then veg, then meat or fish, and sauce, all delicately added in sequence until the pass manager calls the waiters to serve the customers.
Four times each night this performance goes unwatched, except by Grethel of course, who is very proud of her mobile kitchen.
‘The Kitchen comprises of a hot kitchen equipped with stoves, a kitchen marquee and scullery unit. At the end of the run we pack up all our belongings, the kitchen equipment all fits into our 12m long hot kitchen unit, our smalls fit into our dry storage (6m), and the scullery container holds all of our cleaning equipment. So we pack the entire kitchen up into 12m, 6m and a 3m containers and it goes straight onto the road, ready to do it all again in the next town. Hello Durban!’
Where: On the grounds of Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, at the main entrance turn left and be directed to parking lot 3
When: The dinner circque spectacular runs from June 1 to mid August , 2011
Info: Contact Madame Zingara’s box office on 0861 MADAME or 0861 623 263. Email enquiries can be directed to boxoffice@madamezingra.com
For more information about the Love Magic Tour, visit www.madamezingara.com
Big top highlights
South Africa’s Burlesque sensation is opened by The Little Queen of Tarts, who is a sassy past master at the art of quick change. Rory Avenstrup, the live wire Little Queen of Tarts, holds firm that “dynamite comes in small packages”.
As one of the cirque’s anchor performers, Avenstrup is an experienced actress and puppeteer with performances on stage and film. Movie buffs will remember her in Paljas, directed by Katinka Heyns, where she took the role of Solly.
“It was submitted to the 70th Oscars for Best Foreign Film, which was very important to me because it meant I was part of the then newly democratic South Africa’s optimistic first submission to the Academy Awards,” Avenstrup said. Another memorable role was in Woman of Desire with Bo Derek and Robert Mitchum.
Accompanying her at centre stage is a veritable United Nations of performers with death-defying aerial acts, mind-bending contortions and the most astounding roller-skating performance to be seen anywhere on the globe.
Durban audiences will also welcome back with open arms the Original Tons, who are guaranteed to get any crowd on its feet with their larger-than-life performances. Celebrating the smash hits of Motown and the great disco divas including Aretha Franklin, The Pointer Sisters, The Supremes and Gladys Knight, their performance is funky, foot-stomping and, most of all, the best fun around.
The ample Stella Magaba hails from Fort Beaufort and began her auspicious career singing in community choirs. She has several theatre productions and television shows under her belt. The charismatic Lilian Khumalo is from Johannesburg. She “trained as a Cordon Bleu chef and studied HR, PR and marketing” before following her heart to the stage. Gregarious Salome Damon hails from Mitchells Plain in Cape Town and her powerful Tina Turner-inspired voice has been her stock in trade since the tender age of 15.