My Marlene is a cabaret show detailing the life of Marlene Dietrich. It is a tale of sparkly resistance, a refusal to do what is expected, and the power of art.
Dietrich is an iconic historical figure: she grew up in Germany, where she became a star of the Weimar screen, before moving to the USA, where she was an acclaimed wartime performer. She was a contradictory, colourful, and defiant character, both artistically and personally, which the show attempts to encapsulate.
The show is set during the Second World War, when Dietrich entertained American soldiers. In the play, she details her life leading up to this point.
Visually, the show is fabulous. The audience sits at tables around the stage, creating an immersive experience reflective of a Weimar cabaret bar. Actor Tjasa Ferme works with the audience cleverly throughout, weaving around the tables and making each audience member a part of the show.
Ferme’s storytelling is at times completely captivating, and her droll Berlin humour, as well as her intentionally provocative style, is entertaining. Her characterisation is impressive, and her warm singing voice is a highlight of the show. The musical numbers are fantastic, and Ferme truly comes alive when she is singing, in a way that is a delight to watch.
The presence of a live pianist is also notably enjoyable. Aside from his impressive playing, he adds depth to the show through sly reactions and encouragements towards the audience.
Some moments, however, fall a little flat, and I would have liked to see more editing in the script to make it punchier. The emotional impact could have been greater, and different angles might have explored the character of Dietrich in a more complex way. Ferme is a talented performer, but there is a lack of nuance in some of the storytelling. There is a deeper political message, yet the show does not quite reach it.
Nonetheless, My Marlene is a sparkling, sexy musical performance that keeps the audience entertained, and with some workshopping, it has the potential to become a must-see show in the future.
My Marlene is running until 17 August at Checkpoint at Assembly Checkpoint.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Jaka Vinsek, provided to The Student as press material.