It’s funny, and somewhat gratifying, to see that Die Roten Punkte have moved to the much larger, more theatrical venue at The Arts Centre. Gratifying because it’s great to see that they are getting richly deserved success, but funny because they are still playing on the same tiny set of instruments that they always have, and performing in such a large space makes them seem even tinier. And this is a pretty good summation of the show itself- it’s much bigger than Super Musikant, the show they’ve been touring for a few years, but it still retains the hallmarks of the DRP experience: stopping songs midway to snipe at each other about sibling grievances; Otto’s straight-edge naivete; Astrid’s binge-drinking and outrageous flirting with certain audience members. In many ways this show is something of a sequel to their last, indeed the thirteen-minute rock opera that forms the centre of the show is a direct continuation of events outlined in an earlier song. So if you’re a long-time fan of DRP there will be additional jokes that you will get, but if this is your first time seeing them don’t worry, you’ll be in good hands.
So what’s bigger about it? It would be brutish of me to reveal what happens in the first few moments of the show, but I can tell you that it was both surprising and delightful (the two next things I look for in a show after funny) and sets up the larger-than-life nature of the evening better than anything they’ve ever done before. For a moment you may actually find yourself believing that they really are prince and princess of Rock ‘n Roll. That said, there’s nothing particularly fresh about the show content. The songs are new and they are all great (it’s sometimes difficult to follow the lyrics, but Astrid will sometimes stop to explain to the audience what is going on), but if you’ve heard their older set-list you’ll know roughly what to expect. I don’t say this as a bad thing- in fact it’s a tribute to the talents of the pair that they are still making great songs, but if you didn’t enjoy them previously, it’s unlikely this show will change your mind.
But unless you’re vehemently against musical comedy then you should consider this show a must-see. If you’re a fan of having fun, if you’re a fan of laughing hard, if you’re a fan of rock n’ roll, it comes highly, highly recommended. Do see it.
Kunst Rock runs until April 17th at The Arts Centre. For full booking details go to the Melbourne Comedy Festival website