KABARÉN GROTESQUE is fourty-five minutes of raucous, charming student theatre at its best. The show combines live music, dance, song and witty satire into an intimate performance not suitable for children.
The cabaret tent sits right outside of the cathedral. Rows of benches face the stage and the audience is crammed in close. A live band is packed into the corner.
Dancers in fishnet tights open the show, before the master of ceremonies takes a stand on the stage balcony. The next 45 minutes follow quickly. The plot is chaotic but coherent, with three separate storylines satirising different aspects of Swedish and Lund life in quick succession. The content is sometimes raunchy, often offensive, but always feels very temporal.
The acts are clearly written by someone with a great grasp on the contemporary Swedish social landscape, as well as a high screen time. Swedish politicians are satirised, dating culture is dissected, and crude sexual jokes are made. For those too far in the back to hear anything, there are enough visual shorthands to understand. The audience gets to hear about Leonardo DiCaprio’s preference for women under the age of 25, bone smashing, and AI pornography.
The performances are strong both in acting and singing, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting enough to prevent any real offense. The cast has strong chemistry and the whole performance feels fun and lighthearted. The music is genuinely catchy, and the live band goes beyond what you would expect from a student ensemble. Both music and comedy are consistently excellent throughout.
Overall, the whole production has an undeniable homemade charm that excuses any jokes that might have gone too far. For non-Swedish speakers, the language barrier is real but not fatal. Physical comedy, timing and sheer confidence of the performers carry you through the jokes you miss.
