Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett

Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett

Creative Director/Producer Tom Velvick

EmCee, Singer and Director Bernie Dieter

Sydney Spiegeltent

Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park until July 28

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

It was standing room only in the packed Sydney Spiegeltent for the opening of Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett. The uninhibited debauchery and freedom of 1930s Berlin cabaret is alive. 

Bernie, the ultimate cabaret artiste and EmCee, is a combination of Joel Gray from the musical Cabaret, Carlotta, Frank 'N' Furter and former Cabaret Conspiracy singer Boom Boom La Bern. Bernie has riveting stage presence and she has gathered an extraordinarily talented troupe of performers who have bewildering circus skills that they take to the edge. 

We've all seen a hundred versions of the routines, and this show takes them up a few notches. There’s more fire, the balancing act is higher, the hula hoops routine is more spectacular, and the hair suspension act is stunning. Bernie’s singing accompaniment with the band makes the whole experience soar even higher. 

All of the performers are mind-bogglingly flexible, and none more than contortionist Soliana Ersie who stretches for four hours every day to be able to put her body in unbelievable positions. 

Joe Keeley is an amazing aerialist and is a master of the silks and straps.

Blue Phoenix performs on a suspended pole which must be way more difficult than one that is fixed at both ends..

Reuben Helfenbaum takes his balancing act up to the skies without any safety devices. If he falls its a long way down. He’s almost like the drunken master in martial arts.

Lisa Lottie’s hula hoop routine is incredible and sexy, and when the stage lights go out and the hula hoops illuminate, it’s mesmerising.

I normally like fire acts anyway, and Bella Diosa brings in more fire, bigger fire and uses more parts of her body to perform with the fire. She also executes the best and most exciting hair hanging routine that I’ve seen anywhere.

Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett is a fantastic show for adults, and if you’re thinking of taking children it’s useful to know that there’s a bit of swearing and an obvious, ongoing perceived reward for one of the performers is cocaine.

The long and rousing opening night standing ovation indicated the audience's appreciation. Go to see this show if you want to be thoroughly entertained, engaged and enthralled and walk around feeling better about the world.