The Tiger Lillies: SEVEN DEADLY SINS

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2008 REVIEW
Tiger Lillies  with Nathan Evans and Ophelia Bitz

The Famous Spiegeltent

Aug 12 – 14, 19 – 21, 25, 27 – 28

at 21.45pm, (1 hour 15 mins)

£15, (conc, £14)

Reviewed by Jacqueline Sharp

In the past four years, Brechtian Cabaret, has surfaced! Boston based Brechtian Punk Cabaret duo, The Dresden Dolls, probably get the credit for it becoming hugely popular worldwide.  Amanda Palmer and Brian, both have a large fan base, paving the way for others to follow suit.

The band are; Martyn Jacques – (Vocals, Accordion, Piano, Ukulele); Adrian Stout – (Contra Bass), Musical Saw, (Guitar, Vocals); Adrian Huge – (Drums and Toys, Vocals); Claus Buehler – (Keyboards). 

Many other performers have surfaced as Brechtian Cabaret performers; Regina Spector, Brel and Rio and Georgina, (at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, with Anti-Winehouse). Today’s generation of oppressive teenagers, identify with nostalgia, as a way to be expressive and experimental.  Cabaret is seen to be unplugged and unrehearsed.    

The Tiger Lillies have their own unique original style. Their show at Edinburgh Fringe, 7 Deadly Sins, sees them experiment with vaudeville, dark cabaret, (Brechtian style). 

Two extremely talented performers sharing the credit in 7 Deadly Sins  are well known performers in cabaret circles.  Ophelia Bitz, a slapstick comedy artist joins The Tiger Lillies on stage  as does the narrator and puppeteer Nathan Evans, with his two handmade punk puppets. 

Jacques, singer and songwriter for the group, draws inspiration from several German Cabaret writers, of the 1920, 1930’s era, such as Bertholt Brecht and Hanns Eisler.

 
I really liked The Tiger Lillies, and would love to see a Master of Ceremonies  host the performance. In German Cabaret circles after the First World War the Masters of Ceremonies were well-versed, witty and able to hurl insults to the audience. 

Important to the show as the puppets are, in 7 Deadly Sins, the puppeteer narrates the show. I felt that this wasn’t his role. 

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In the show, the band perform tracks from their latest album, 7 Deadly Sins.  (Gluttony, Pride, Lust, Greed, Sleuth, Envy, Wrath).

The Tiger Lillies have several albums to their credit, notably; Circus Songs, (album about sad clowns, diseased jugglers, fiendish gigolos' and many other scabrous circus folk); Punch and Judy, (album about Punch, the archetypal English puppet and anyone who gets in his way);

Jacques said he choose not to write historical songs, about politics, exile, oppression, but some of his ideas came from horror, dark cabaret, evil, devils, eccentric, shock tactics, circus, clowns, Punch and Judy and Charlie Chaplain. 

Rounding up!  Wouldn’t it be fantastic, if the audience could get to decide what tracks are played at a Tiger Lillies show?  Different tracks suit different folks. The audience would have control, be able to press a buzzer, with The Tiger Lillies performing to audience demand.  All of their songs, past and present, are put into a lottery, waiting to be performed, unplugged, unexpected and unrehearsed.  The Tiger Lillies awaiting in participation, as the audience press a button, connected to a juke box.  What a thought!  Bizarre!  Yes, but that is what The Tiger Lillies are all about.

Check out link for more tracks and information on The Tiger Lillies, www.tigerlillies.com, or myspace.com/tigerlilliesuk 

For more information on Ophelia Bitz click on, www.myspace.com/opheliabitz.