Although I couldn't pronounce "Die Roten Punkte" to save my life, it was a favorite of the clients and the staff I took there and I noticed that it was the top seller of the Fringe. I had to agree it had good music and a lot of laughs.



I didn't see the orginal Die Roten Punkte last year, but apparently Astrid, the band's drummer, has been "on vacation" since then (ie: at rehab). Otto, lead guitar and her brother, has her drinking energy drinks which Astrid comments are "not as fun as my old drinks" ... until she spikes them behind the curtain, that is. (Ironically, our group was headed to an NA meeting following our Fringe outing.) I also particularly enjoyed the results of the family counselling that Astrid and Otto have undergone to counteract "harassment in the workplace", forcing them to use "I" statements with each other.

ROCK BANG!!!

Die Roten Punkte - SUPER MUSIKANT
Tobias & Bartholomew
Broadway Theatre
5 stars out of 5

If you're only going to see one Fringe show, make it SUPER MUSIKANT.

The comedic rock cabaret is one of the best shows I've ever seen at the Saskatoon festival.

"German" brother and sister duo Otto and Astrid Rot are at it again, offering another 60 minutes of non-stop entertainment, silliness and laughs. Oh, and they're pretty good musicians, too; they really do rock on those mini drums and guitar.

Die Roten Punkte translates into "The Red Dots," while Super Musikant means "Super Musician." And super they are. Clad in black and red, and sporting white painted faces and bright red lips, the rock stars pumped up Saturday's large crowd by yelling, "Make some noise, Saskatoon." The duo then launched into a song about a Rock 'n' Roll Monster, before showcasing other delightful ditties, including Astrid's Drinking Song, which forced enthusiastic audience members out of their seats.

One of the highlights of the show is the synchronized dance number, where Astrid and Otto show the audience how to be a robot and a lion. Funny dance moves always make me laugh, and Astrid and Otto's are great.

Following last year's highly successful show, buzz is swirling around SUPER MUSIKANT - and rightfully so. Broadway Theatre was nearly filled on Saturday afternoon, and it was one of the largest crowds I've seen at a Fringe play.

The bottom line: Go see this show. You won't be disappointed. It's a hilarious parody of "real" punk rock acts, and you'll snicker at the parallels to The White Stripes.

And like any good rock concert, you can even buy a T-shirt at the end.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008