“Teatro ZinZanni: Love,Chaos and Dinner”

**** If you have never been to a Teatro ZinZanni production high atop the Cambrai Hotel in Chicago, then you owe it to yourself and your family to get down and see “Love, Chaos and Dinner” the current arrival. The formula for the shows at this facility ( rather than theater, I will call it this) is a dinner and Cirque Soliel performance art production. In the previous shows, we fell in love with the host, Frank Ferrante a/k/a Caesar. In this one, he has been replaced by Magician Lucy Darling who many of us are familiar with from her show at the Chicago Magic Lounge up in the Andersonville neighborhood. While Ferrante was a master of ad-lib comedy playing off the audience members he selected to do so with, Darling is more magic and while she does well with the audience members, it is her magic that grabs hold. Since we are in a sort of dining and drinking establishment, no wonder that all of her magic deals with alcohol ( sells drinks, doesn’t it? ). I do love her “play action”.

Sa’Rayah is her co-host and is one heck of a vocalist. She opens with “Sweet Home Chicago” and later she does a great version of “I Put A Spell On You” and in the second act, you will love her rendition of “At Last” WOW! The rest of the cast are talented circus performers who don costumes and do silly things throughout the show but when they are in the spotlight, they are astounding and do some spell-binding feats. Cassie Cutler and Oliver Parkinson will astound you with their work on the trapeze. Lea Hinz does a number where she is hung from the tower by her hair and is tossed around and does flips and never loses her smile ( this has to be painful, but she is perfect). Ulzii Mergen is a contortionist and does things with her body that seem impossible to imagine and Michael Evolution can work basketballs better than the championship Bulls.

Part of the evening is the dinner. In fact, for many, the dinner is what makes the evening so special. When you arrive at The Cambria, you will be taken up to the 14th floor, escorted to check in (they offer free coat check) and then go to your table. At the table you will find an assortment of veggies and some tasty hummus. Your server will take your drink order and discuss the food. The dinner includes a salad and of course dessert, but the new menu offers upgrades if desired. We stayed with the menu items, but I did upgrade my salad to a “beet salad” that was tremendous and delicious ( and as my mother used to say, healthy). Jane had the Roasted Salmon and I opted for the Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder ( a wonderful choice).

FYI-The desert was Belgian Chocolate Mousse so I was in heaven. The meal is timed out as part of the performance, so it seems like a lot of time between portions, but to be honest, I feel it is a better way to digest the dinner. When the show is over many cast members are in the lobby waiting to meet and greet us. It is a delightful experience and if you ask to sit in front tables( there may be a premium to do so), you may be part of the performance. I will tell you that those who participated tonight had fun and an experience that they will be talking about for years to come. While I kind of missed our previous host Caesar, Lucy darling ended up doing her thing in a manner that I found fun and her killer magic is just that “magic”.

Directed by Maggie O’Donnell, this three hour production and dining experience is one that will become a memory for years to come. A lovely way to spend an evening at the theater!