Walking in to Teatro ZinZanni’s vintage cabaret tent is like stepping in to a private jazz club a-la the roaring ’20s – dimmed lights, velvet curtains, wait staff dressed in period-perfect duds – all contribute to a vibe that has most convinced they’ve stepped back in time. How appropriate, then, that the theater’s current production, “Gangsters of Love” has you doing just that.
Developed by renowned performers Dreya Weber (Myrna) and Frank Ferrante (Kincaid/Caesar) over the past two years, “Gangsters of Love” keeps with the tradition of Teatro ZinZanni – incorporating an impressive mix of comedy, vaudeville and circus tricks – while bringing to life a fresh tale of love lost and found in 1932.
Set amidst the backdrop of a prohibition-era speakeasy, ZinZanni’s newest show follows the tumultuous romance between cabaret performer Myrna and her former flame, mob boss Big Sam Kincaid. Playing parallel subplots of mobster tomfoolery, confessions of unrequited love and madcap circus shenanigans, “Gangsters” embodies the glitz and glam of the golden age in a three and a half hour show made all the more grand by the five-course meal that accompanies the performance.
In true ZinZanni fashion, the plot calls for audience participation that proves key to the success of the show.On more than one occasion the flamboyantly fun Chef Caesar seeks out unsuspecting members of the crowd to serve as the butt of jokes, which more often than not are painfully, yet hilariously, accurate.
But the true scene stealer comes in the form of famed blues vocalist Francine Reed, whose turn as jazz singer extraordinaire Madame Zanzinni, finds the audience on their feet dancing to the sultry, prohibition-era tunes. Yes, the dance break is part of the show, but it doesn’t mean Reed’s enchanting rendition of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” couldn’t illicit spontaneity. She’s just that good.
Also of note are gravity-defying performances by aerialists Duo Madrona, comic acrobat Andrea Conway Doba and Weber – and an impressive tap-dance from vaudevillian Wayne Doba, whose charming take as fumbling waiter Dik Nimby is hard to forget.
Equal parts entertainment and experience, “Gangsters” is a hilarious testament to an age when liquor and love trumped all – and a captivating trip to the past you won’t want to miss.
“Gangsters of Love” runs through September 30. For tickets and more information, go to http://dreams.zinzanni.org/. Teatro ZinZanni is located at 222 Mercer St., Seattle.
