EdFringe 2018 Review: Hans: Like a German

Opening clad in lederhosen, Hans enters with The Sound of Music’s Do Re Mi, a tsunami of self-confidence and camp exuberance which immediately sweeps an incredibly game sold-out Saturday night audience into the frivolity. The comic immediately picks out his targets from the audience: senior citizens in the front row, two handsome young men (that will later be dragged up for a potential traumatising dance off), a young German girl, an openly heterosexual couple, and an elderly gentleman in the back (“All he sees is colour and movement”). Hans’ comedy is good-natured and incredibly sharp – and also somewhat familiar to those that caught his 2017 show.

Backed by his band of Ungrateful Bastards, Hans delivers glittering renditions of I Should Be So Lucky (in his “native” German), My Favourite Things, It’s Raining Men, Like a Virgin (now Like a German, of course), Club 69’s I Look Good, a Scottish Medley, and Proud Mary. These are familiar anthems allowing the crowd to get immersed in the fun and Hans puts his own unique stamp on these, often with piano-organ accompaniment. Hans is a true showman and captivates the audience during these renditions – undeniably fascinating to watch – and he knows it.

Hans dips into his time in the USA with anecdotes about Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum (who he notes doesn’t actually know German like HE does), and his newfound army of haters. In a particularly amusing sequence Hans shares some of the messages he has received from his fresh American audience – complete with raucous off-the-cuff rebuttals. Well-produced video interludes (another The Sound of Music inspired touch) allow for Hans to transform into a blitzkrieg of glittering beauty in two further costume changes.

Like a German is a slice of glittering cabaret heaven. Hans is the ultimate showman brimming with an exuberant confidence and captivating energy resulting in one of the most excessively enjoyable shows. Go see it, hunnies.