'Es Liegt In Der Luft!' is a famous, but somewhat dated and antiquated German Kabarett-Musical; with music by Mischa Spoliansky and book and lyrics by Marcellus Schiffer it was composed in 1928 in Berlin and is a contemporeanous study of life and ideology at that time. That time being the infamous Weimar Republic between the two world wars... a period of egocentricities, eccentricities, flamboyancies, extravangancies, and all without any real feeling of connectedness or belonging.
Composed as a set of 24 interconnected musical vignettes to be performed in German Kabarett style, the show is set in a large Department Store [ostensibly on the Kurfürstendamm], and is used as a metaphor for the world of Berlin at that time; in what the original score called, "Ein Labyrinth des Lebens". All manner of characters both populate the store and walk through its doors during the show; not least of all a couple who manage to lose two of their babes-in-arms, and come back later on looking for them; a pair of shoplifters, a shopoholic, and a drunken lush. There's even a wedding half-way through!
This evening however, we were treated not to the full musical, and not even in German.. but instead, we were presented with just 9 of the songs in a new English translation and adaptation by Steven Edis. The idea being that this is a 'taster' of hopefully things to come. The company is dipping its collective foot into the pool to test the temperature of the water.
On entering the auditorium, a five-piece live band had been set up at the rear of the stage, costumed quasi-authentically, and sitting in amidst what could possibly be meant to represent mannequins. These competent and talented instrumentalists, who could authentically recreate the wonderful sounds and rhythms of that era, were William Hearne, Pip Sayers, Emily Mason, Kieran Murphy, and Jay Carroll. Unfortunately they were want to get a little carried away at times thus overpowering the singing and action on stage.
On stage, four performers were utilised throughout to play all the parts necessary in order to give the audience a flavour of the complete show. These were Meriel Cunningham, Owen Clayton, Jessica Hope, and Enrico Voigt. I especially enjoyed the performances of the talented ladies, Cunningham and Hope.
I don't think the updating of the lyrics worked at times [references to Listerine and Nurofen for example jarred with the 1920's theme], but if a faithful recreation of the show were to be mounted, I feel it would be wonderful.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 22.6.22
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 22.6.22
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