DER GELBE STERN (THE YELLOW STAR)
One step takes you from the foyer of the Seymour Centre, 2011, to the decadent hey-day of Weimar-era Berlin and a cabaret bar steeped in song, seduction, and the bittersweet swan-song of a fading siren, Erika Stern in her production Der Gelbe Stern (The Yellow Star). Co-writer and performer Alexis Fishman gives us a peek behind the ruby curtain …
What do you think the enduring appeal of Berlin during that time is? I think it’s because it was a fascinating, unique period of history. Wedged between two major wars, the Weimar Republic was a zenith of cultural and intellectual output. I think people are attracted to the idea of dingy underground clubs where performers were outrageous and politically provocative. It’s sexy and dangerous.
This is an original piece of cabaret. Can you tell us how Der Gelbe Stern came about? I lost a lot of family in the holocaust. My grandmother (who is still alive) survived Auschwitz along with four of her five sisters. The show is my way of acknowledging my heritage and honouring these family members both alive and passed. Also, I was really interested in exploring the life of someone who was like me, someone that was doing what I might have been doing had I been in Berlin in 1933.
Who is Erika Stern? Erika is a fictional character. She is the darling of the Berlin cabaret scene, she is loved and adored by her fans who have been coming to watch her show for the past three years. She is sassy, daring and always provocative.
How is cabaret different as an artform? Cabaret is exciting because there is no fourth wall, so the performer is interacting directly with the audience. There is an intimacy that you get in cabaret that you don’t get in regular theatre or musicals. It’s exciting as a performer to be able to really connect in the moment with your audience and I think it’s great for the audience because they are able to be more closely connected to the story.
Aug 3-13, The Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre, cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, $20-32, 9114 1555, secure.seymourboxoffice.com.au
