Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett
Spiegeltent
Sydney, Australia
10 September 2022
After raving reviews that resonated left, right and centre of Germany’s queen of cabaret incarnations over the last years, it was about high time for us to check out Bernie Dieter and her debauched spectacular ourselves in the third dimension to ascertain what the hype was all about, and what could be a better context to see her Club Kabarett holding court than in the pop-up Spiegeltent at the juncture of scenic Circular Quay and the Rocks as part of the annual arts extravaganza that is the Sydney Fringe Festival.
In essence, the way Bernie Dieter channels her alchemy results in a veritable tour de force of carefully curated sideshow acts ranging from borderline circus-worthy aerial exercises to provocative gender-bending raunchy burlesque performances, all of which are framed and contextualised by what could be described as a soundtrack sourced directly from a Weimar-era jazz den courtesy of her accompanying 4-piece bands, aptly and tellingly named “Die Vier”.
Informed by a deliciously mischievous energy and inimitable charm with characteristics reminiscent of Ute Lemper, Marlene Dietrich and elements that seem to be derived from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bernie Dieter effortlessly commands the stage, tantalises the audience, shares anecdotes with her trademark tongue-in-cheek humour and manages to present an evening that feels like a glorious mosaic of freaks and weirdos contributing to a holistic, inclusive and life-affirming whole.
Directly and masterfully engaging the audience with her quick, stimulating wit without ever running danger of making fun of individuals and serenading the audience with bawdy ballads displaying her impressive vocal range, Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett proved to be an immensely enjoyable immersive evening of pure escapism with enthralling cabaret and a celebration of diversity, hilarity and the freedom of the arts at large.
An outrageous, fast paced, ribald and boundary pushing show aimed at open-minded audiences that is bound to bewilder and drop jaws.
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photo courtesy of Sydney Fringe Festival
