DIE ROTEN PUNKTE – SUPER MUSIKANT
Having already won accolades at comedy fest here in Melbourne, Fringe in Adelaide and also a tour in Canada, Die Roten Punkte have already proven that they can deliver a great evening out. Even if you are not a fan of musical comedy, one can’t help but be impressed by the world that is created both onstage and off, with CDs, T-shirts and a strong online presence all faithfully dedicated to the idea that you really are watching the greatest band in the world, or at the very least the premier German rock n’ roll export.
What really adds to this creation is the way that many of the elements support each other as the story of Astrid and Otto Rot slowly unfolds over the course of the show- throwaway elements of one song recur in others, so that, for example, Otto’s initially harmless fascination with lions later takes on a much darker perspective. These overarching themes run through both the songs and the inter-song banter between the two characters, which is where most of the comedy in the show derives from. It’s very clear that these two comedians have fully inhabited their characters, to the point where it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between what has been pre-written for the show and what is being ad libbed on the spot.
While the songs themselves generally keep to a fairly straightforward punk rock aesthetic, the greatest moments in the show come from when they depart from this formula, branching out into the Birthday Party-esque dirge ‘4.15 to Spandau’ and the Kraftwerk-inspired ‘Ich Bin Nicht Ein Roboter’, which is not just a great piece of synth-pop in and of itself but was also accompanied by a physically impressive and outright hilarious dance routine that came out of nowhere and had the audience applauding out of sheer wonder. This sequence alone is well worth the price of admission, and also proves that you can make a song out of three notes on a keytar and one cowbell.
Overall this is one rock n’ roll concert that comes heartily recommended- as does the CD and the t-shirt.
Visit the Fringe Website for booking details.