Two of Seattle's landmark vaudeville theater companies combined forces last week for two sold out performances, and I was fortunate to be squeezed into the Tuesday night show. Working out of Teatro ZinZanni's intimate spiegeltent, the Moisture Festival and Teatro ZinZanni created a unique performance they labeled the MishMash Circus Bash, and it was just that and more.
Performers from both companies were woven seamlessly into a single show hosted by ZinZanni's Joel Salom, the Australian comic juggler who also performed - with and without pants - his classic bits as well as interacting with the audience and the other performers. Moisture Festival performers included Godfrey Daniels, Dreya Weber, Amy G, Jen Kramer, Michael Trautman, Eric Newton, Vita Radionova, Duo Volta and Tom Noddy with his famous Bubble Magic.
I was particularly intrigued (as I always am) with Noddy's ability to create small bubble sculptures that are visible and fascinating to a large audience. Having been in the entertainment business for forty plus years, Noddy also uses his ongoing jokes and spiel to keep the crowd engaged and intrigued.
The gang from Moisture Festival was joined by several of the Teatro ZinZanni cast including Wayne and Andrea Conway Doba, Domitil Ailot, Dreya Weber and Lady Rizo (Amelia Zirin-Brown). Having recently, attended ZinZanni's newest show The Hot Spot, I can attest to the fact that all of these performers presented original material not seen in The Hot Spot.
I was especially impressed by Dreya Weber's performance as an aerialist who could sing and make jokes with her partner Mike Holder while hanging in some unique positions. This was nothing like I saw her do in The Hot Spot, and it was quite spectacular.
The show was topped off with a duet from the Artistic Directors of the two companies. Moisture Festival's Ron W. Bailey and Teatro ZinZanni's Norman Langill took the stage to sing a number, which eventually included the entire cast in a grand and glorious finale.
Moisture Festival has closed its doors for 2015 after a four-week run but will return again in 2016. Teatro ZinZanni's The Hot Spot runs through June 7. Hopefully, the two companies will join forces again next year.