Come rock out with Nordic gods at Teatro ZinZanni

By Gabrielle Nomura

Special to The Reporter

With some shows, one time is the charm. With Teatro ZinZanni, no matter how many times you go back, new wonders and a transformative experience await you at this Seattle circus-dinner-theater.

This time? It’s an out-of-this-world Nordic, rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza where the audience is invited to come party with the gods: Wotan, Thor, Freya and the gang in Valhalla through an evening of bleach blonde wigs, steamy passion, acrobatics, comedy (not to mention heavenly smoked white cheddar and gouda soup!).

Co-directed by ZinZanni founder, Norm Langill and Swedish triple-threat, Tobias Larsson, the show is ZinZanni at its best. Highlights include former Pacific Northwest Ballet ballerina, Ariana Lallone, in a half-ballet, half-aerial routine as she uses a hoop suspended from the ceiling to spin, leap, and jump.

Additionally, back by popular demand, the sultry Vertical Tango duo could not be more mesmerizing. Using simply a pole in the middle of the room, the two acrobat’s bodies twist and turn around one another while suspended in mid-air, holding on to the pole, only to slide down with perfect control and dancer-like grace.

An ode to the Northwest’s Nordic community, Dinner At Wotan’s rocked the tent with a hybrid of classical operatic scores and epic  rock ballads such as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Note that ZinZanni is famous for it’s audience participation, but never fear: it’s impossible not to have fun under this vintage tent, especially with a few glasses of wine or champagne.

While in this economy, even going to the movies can seem like a splurge, the magic of ZinZanni is worth saving up for and will lift your spirit in this dreary Northwest winter until spring arrives. No other show allows patrons to see ballerinas or acrobats close-up, or opera divas rocking out with clowns and drag queens.

Gabrielle Nomura is a for staff writer with The Reporter. She lives in Seattle.

Dinner at Wotan’s plays through May 12 at Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle.

Wotan, Thor, Freya and the gang in Valhalla are part of Teatro ZinZanni’s ‘Dinner at Woton’s.’ Keith Brofsky photo