That's Human Nature - The Ups And Downs
Jo-Jo Effekt (Yo-Yo Effect)
Komödie am Altstadtmarkt, Braunschweig, 31st January, 2014
Cast:
Bianca Arndt - Claudia
Carolin Fink- Steffi
Inez Timmer - Margot
Mario Saccoccio - Sascha
(Stefanie Derner was originally cast for the part of Claudia but due to sickness replaced by Bianca Arndt after a few shows)
With a book by Kerstin Langner-Jorgensen the story of the musical (well more a revue) is rather simple or pretty much non existent.
Three women go to the (of course gay) hairdresser in the morning to get their hair done.But then a power failure in the area forces them to wait and start chatting about (each) life in general, from men to love and as the title already implies of course food, eating and diets often quoting well known jokes, phrases and clichés.
At the beginning every of the four protagonists seems to have the life they wish for but soon the drama starts...
In between there are (usually) rather well known pop songs, German schlager songs etc, sometimes with the lyrics adjusted to fit into the show as "Griechischer Wein", "Es lebe der Sport", "Ich bin rund und gesund" and "Aber bitte mit Sahne" cheese (I was SHOCKED how WELL I know some of the songs' lyrics) but also beautiful songs as my favourite Rosenstolz song "Ich Bin Ich (Wir Sind Wir)" or Roger Cicero's "Frauen Regier'n Die Welt".
I must say am normally not too much a fan of such shows, similar shows as "Heiße Zeiten" have been around for several years now and as the recycling in the shows at the Schmidt Theater there is also a lot of recycling in these kind of shows but this show is surprisingly a lot of fun.
Star of the show for me personally was certainly Inez Timmer as the middle aged sharp-witted and life experienced housewife Margot (even though she cannot cook and leaves that to her husband ;-) ) who while certainly because of the character has the most clever lines but also delivers them so poignantly and her subtle Dutch accent adds some kind of cuteness. And when she messed up a line she covered up that so well that you just could be entertained by it.
But also the other two ladies are wonderful to watch.
Bianca Arndt as the career woman and sport addict Claudia who works in an advertisement agency and prefers her job to men has fierceness and boldness but also once her character opens up warmth and her rendition of "Ich Bin Ich (Wir Sind Wir)" was touching.
Carolin Fink as the florist Steffi is so cutely naive and lovely but also so powerful and energetic - and when her character learns of her personal drama she also can convince as a heartbroken lost young woman.
And the main reason for going Mario Saccoccio was also so much fun to watch. He has a brilliant comic timing but in this show he also does not let that dominate the rest of the character as in other shows before but finds the right balance with also making the (gay) character not too OTT and camp.
In one scene when they talk about Italian cuisine he lists alphabetically all kind of pasta - such a fun idea and hearing an Italian (as he is) pronouncing them properly had me in stitches besides all the other moments in which he made me laugh.
I also love his unique bold voice - his "Es Lebe Der Sport" was another personal highlight. with not only the choreography impressive but especially Mario's performance.
Overall "Jo-Jo Effekt" is certainly a diverting and theatre outing that if someone is in mood for some light entertainment will definitely enjoy. I might go again as the show runs for another two weeks until 22nd February.
