Treasure Tavern - Orlando
By Philip Chien
A popular form of entertainment for tourists in Orlando Florida is a variation of dinner theater. Instead of a Broadway-style show some form of live action entertainment is performed in front of the patrons as they eat their dinners. Medieval Times and Arabian Nights specialize in horses, others feature comedy or mysteries, and the Pirates Dinner Theater has a recreation of a pirate ship with six pirates competing for the audience’s enjoyment. The managers of the Pirates Dinner Theater have opened up a new dinner attraction, Treasure Tavern. While it’s also pirate-themed, it’s not an action show.
Treasure Tavern emphasizes what makes them special. Executive director of entertainment Imre Baross said, “There is little in Orlando that offers adult travelers and locals an opportunity to escape the ordinary and go on a dining adventure that’s not focused on entertaining the children.” In fact Treasure Tavern only admits adults (18 and over). The performances are not sexual though, if it was a movie it’d be rated PG-13 at most.
Treasure Tavern is a very different approach for a dinner theater. It’s much smaller (capacity 240) with a small stage (about 25 feet by 5 feet) where the dozen performers entertain the audience.
Managers describe it as “Part comedy, part magic, part juggling, part improv, part Muppets show, and part ‘Adventurer’s Club’ (from Disney’s now closed “Pleasure Island” attraction). In less words – it’s fun live entertainment.
The core performers are Gretta von Keagel, the tavern mistress, three comedians, Jinx (a serving girl), and two puppets who are similar to the wise-cracking Statler and Waldorf from the “Muppet Show.” Dance numbers featured popular music from “Moulin Rouge” and “Mama Mia.” Other acts include an acrobatic duo, a juggler, and a magic act. Those acts will gradually change over time.
The audience area is tiered and only some of it is wheelchair accessible, so if you have a wheelchair you should contact the place ahead of time to make arrangements. Most of the tables sit four to ten people, only a few tables have two seats. Be prepared to seat with strangers. As with all Florida indoor businesses the place is non-smoking.
When you enter you will be given a small glass of rum punch. Refills are available and there’s a bar, but drinks are expensive. Waiters walk around with appetizers; the night we were there they had small shish-ka-bobs of chicken and beef. It’s about 45 minutes from the time the doors open until the first course is served, so those appetizers help if you’re hungry.
The three-course meal consists of a small tossed salad, prime rib with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and small slice of cake. Vegetarian and fish dinners are also available. While the cutlery and silverware is fancy the meal’s nothing extraordinary. The prime rib comes au jus and I would have liked it better if a horseradish sauce was also available. The food quality was okay, a bit better than most chain restaurants but not as decent as a fine dinning establishment.
The contortionist and acrobatic duo were excellent. The juggler did a decent job and involved a couple of audience members in his act. The weakest act was the magic duo. All they did was rapid costume changes, basically the same general trick performed several times in a row.
The entire show lasts about two or three hours.
It was an enjoyable evening, although the admission price will probably limit the audience to tourists and locals who are celebrating something very special.
Photos by Philip Chien and Treasure Tavern.
Links
Website - www.TreasureTavern.com
Treasure Tavern
6400 Carrier Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
Phone: (407) 206-5102
Admission is $49.95. Admission to the show without dinner is $24.95.
About the author
Philip Chien enjoys eating and good stage shows.
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