The Sound Of Wunderlich promised to be ‘the most fringe show in the fringe’. Well, last night’s sold-out performance may just have proved them right. A joyous night full of proper silliness, with everyone cheering.
It is hard to say which spectacle on the stage was the most shocking. Was it the man, well into his 70s, pole dancing in leather trunks? Was it the unicycling nun who transformed into a very dubious lady of the night? Was it the man in the pink mankini who swallowed sausages? There are too many more to list, but probably the most shocking thing was just how much fun the people on stage and those in the audience were having.
Der Wunderlich Revue is a collective of men who are determined to be foolish, in public, often with few clothes involved. Definitely an adult show, this one was (very, very loosely) based on the film classic ‘The Sound Of Music’, though we are not sure the nuns would have approved. Each act was presented by the enthusiastic compere, Desmond O’Connor, who seemed as surprised as we were by what arrived on stage. His witty and outrageous songs brought their own fun, but it was the largely silent troupe of men who stole the show. Through the silliness, there was real talent on show. Sister Adriano’s juggling with blocks of wood is genuinely fascinating, and the commitment to comedy is clear.
This exotic and erotic show filled the venue with laughs. They had few inhibitions, relished in how ridiculous they looked and then ramped it up further, just to get the reaction. We found ourselves smiling, then laughing and then not wanting to leave. If you want to see a polished, slick show, this is not it, but the freshness and originality of this performance is just what we needed. They subverted at every opportunity, ensured everyone felt they were having fun, and as they said, if we didn’t like it, well, they didn’t care!
One of Brighton’s true gems, we will be booking for next year.
