So, you’ve made it, you’ve gotten through the weekend and survived. You might be in a slightly more bruised shape, drained and even perhaps slightly fluey, but it doesn’t matter, you’re here now at the grindstone, pushing buttons and shaking electronic mice. Question is, what you thinking about now…?
For me, it’s what am I going to do next in MY free time, or even in the work minutes or hours that I’ve sneakily shaved off my tedious routine, without the big-guy noticing. On Mondays and Tuesdays, otherwise known as suicide days for the reason that the weekend is still far away, are by far the hardest.
A way to help the less desired days pass with ease is to fill the so called dead spaces in time. We live in a conveyor-belt like system that keeps going around in circles; we wake up, eat, work, hour lunch break, work, drive home, eat, sleep, wake up, etc., and the routine starts again. I feel that there is nothing wrong with that, but a break from the norm is vital; think of that saying “an apple away keeps the doctor away”, well the apple is life, take a bite, keep the shrink at bay.
Ok, I hear you, way too deep, but is it not essentially true? South Africa is a country where outdoor life is in abundance. We have activities and a culture that thrills almost every person in the world; those that are not entertained have forgotten what they are on this earth for… to enjoy it!
It seems as though that Kwa-Zulu Natal is the place to be this July with the Durban July kicking things off a couple of weeks back, the Billabong Pro backing it up, and now the Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams finishing off the month with style and a hint of culture.
A “hint” is perhaps a little bit of an understatement when describing the Madame’s pride and joy. Another way is to say that it’s an EVENT, a nightly banquet that keeps growing night after night, benefiting from the previous night’s ambience. The Suncoast Casino’s outside arena is the place where it’s going down, in the mirror tent – get yourselves there as this is not a night you’ll easily forget. The art of Burlesque is back with a vengeance, captained by the “Little Queen of Tarts” (Rory Avenstrup), who was nominated in the 70th Oscars for Best Foreign Film, as well as playing a role in Bo Derek’s and Robert Mitchum’s “Women of Desire.” – very safe hands!
With a four course meal delivered to the table by entertaining waitron’s, that too have taken on a role for the evening, be it a camp guy who hits on the men at the table, to someone who is completely rude with painstakingly funny remarks, one will almost forget to watch the show. But this is actually impossible, overhead bodies are flung around the rooftop like fruit. And I say fruit because the colours are intense and mind-blowing as the aerial acrobatics astound every soul Madame Zingara allows in.
Among the music, flying bodies, food and of course drinks, there are contortionists that make you cringe and gasp-slash-kind-of-throw-up-a-little, and there is something many thought had died with the 80’s… roller-skating. This craze has been rejuvenated via a show that makes you think “I’m going to go out tomorrow and buy myself a set of skates,” but then sense hits home when you realise there is no chance you could do what they do, so you just enjoy the show and applaud at the end.
Guys, I’ve been to a show before, this is nothing like a show, it’s much more; Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams could easily fit into a scene from “Alice in Wonderland” with Johnny Depp rocking your minds. For me once isn’t enough, twice still not…
South Africa keeps growing, check out what we rate next week.
