Teatro ZinZanni tames the zaniness

I'll just say it right up front: the first time I saw Teatro ZinZanni, I left the spiegeltent with a raging headache.

That was 10 years ago, and the show was, appropriately, Love, Chaos & Dinner. I've been back a number of times over the last decade, and I really started to see a change when Joan Baez joined the show and took over the dual role of hostess and singer. Having one person who could assay both characters with aplomb (not to mention star power) really gave the show some cohesion it sorely needed.

I returned to Pier 29 recently and surprised myself by actively enjoying the show. Director Norman Langill and his team (co-director/choreographer Tobias Larsson, associate director Elise "Mo" Durocher and associate artistic director Reenie Duff) have really tamed the chaos and found a way to balance comedy, audience interaction, music, circus acts and genuine elegance. This latest version, dubbed Hail Caesar, is a fun and classy show.