A TAD OVERDONE?

A friend has begun a new career as a music and theater reviewer for a local gay rag. Over the last couple months I've been his date/driver to numerous local theater productions, mostly at ACT, New Conservatory, Rhino and Berkeley Rep. I suggested to him that he ought to start pursueing the bigger legit theaters, too (I really want to see The Producers if it's still in town). I also suggested Teatro Zinzanni because it's a show AND dinner. (Free food is free food.) I'd heard Alan Cumming was going to perform there so I suggested that would be the show to see.

The budding scribe, bless her heart, got right on the phone and found out Alan Cumming (the original MC from the revival of Cabaret at Studio 54) was just doing a one-time benefit show for New Leaf. However, he got word that Joan Baez was coming back as headliner in May. He convinced them that in order to give Joan a "proper" review he would need to see a sample of the show first. That means we get TWO free meals.

So last night, for our "research" visit we got to see the show starring our own local Mexican-American Elvis impersonator, El Vez. He is the King! He's cute, funny, talented, unique, great costumes, fabulous hairdo, and did I mention cute?

So what is Teatro Zinzanni? - dinner theater meets Circe Du Solei meets Beach Blanket Babylon meets Moulin Rouge, and as someone said, just a few steps above Chicken John. Non-stop mayhem throughout the entire meal and breathtaking performances mixed with audience participation.

My poor date had her worst nightmare realized, but it's her own bad Karma for including "forced audience participation" in most of her own performances. The juggler needed a head to ricochet a ping pong ball that he spits out then catches on his nose (you had to be there...) Since I was wearing a hat, my compadre's bald head was just too inviting for them to pass up. She was mortified, but suffered thru the torture just to get it over.

San Francisco boy, Michael Davis started as a juggler with Pickle Family Circus then went on to fame as a semi-regular in the early days of Saturday Night Live. As one of the headliners, he played a character "The Chef", named Tad Overdone (I plan to give that to someone as a porn name.) He was the culprit that preyed on poor journalist-in-training. Performers are all required to schmooze with the patrons, so he later came to our table obstensibly to make small talk, but all the while he was setting up a little magic trick to pull a menu out from under the place settings. Just like in cartoons!

In a truely Herb Caen moment, I spotted none other than Alan Cumming sitting at a table as a guest. I thought he might be a plant, but was just on a date to see the show. Despite Cummings numerous interviews where he stressed his bisexuality, from my vantage point, this expert believes firmly that he probably swings must farther to the gay side.

Reasons:
-Cumming's date was an attractive guy around Alan's age that showed no "bisexual" leanings himself. (Exhibit A)
-During another forced audience participation (F.A.P.) segment, everyone was asked to dance with a partner to a slow song. Those two jumped right up and danced the tummy-touch with no pause. (Exhibit B)
-During yet another F.A.P., everyone asked to kiss. Well honey, those two had that "look" in their eyes and locked lips longer than most. (Exhibit C)
-I rest my case.

And to add to the Herb Caenism, poor Alan got roped into the nastiest F.A.P. demonstration involving juggling Wonder Bread, a pound of butter and a raw chicken. Thank god there was a celebrity in the audience to do the dirty work for us.