Review of Lost Cabaret: Nonsense in the Night, Fringe 2023

Birdy experienced her weirdest night at the festival yet, with Lost Cabaret: Nonsense in the Night at the Magical Spiegelyurt.

Let me start this review by telling you I’d already had a pretty weird night, having come fresh from FOOD at the Edinburgh International Festival – so, I don’t know if that helped or hindered my state of mind for Lost Cabaret: Nonsense in the Night.

As a general rule, I’m usually up for anything cabaret, and anything a bit weird, whimsical and silly, so this show appealed to me whilst browsing the media portal. I didn’t realise until after I’d booked that it was based in the famous Magical Spiegelyurt, so that was also a bit of a treat.

I didn’t know what to expect when I queued to get in, but I did get there early and whilst waiting, was asked by various people what the thing in front of me was. It was the Magical Spiegelyurt, of course! Not that everyone would probably recognise a yurt when they saw one.

Format

If you’re reading this review, you probably already know what cabaret is by now. The format is simple, with David Tieck and Sharney Emma Nougar (AKA Two Little Dickheads) as hosts, we’re guided through a very silly evening full of interesting and diverse guests.

Got to say, I’m not sure if it was the previous show I saw that threw me, or if I was a little bit overwhelmed by the magical of the Magical Spiegelyurt and all the wonders inside, but I was a bit lax on my notes that evening, which is why this reviewer is incredibly grateful to Lost Cabaret for posting all the acts on for the night on their Facebook wall. Thanks Lost Cabaret!

Due to someone else’s diligence, I can tell you that the other acts we were treated to on this very night were Bobby Goldfinn, Jeremy Segway (the one act whose name did really stick in my head, because in the future we’re all going to be called Jeremy, and both Duncan brothers were on Segways), Callum Stratford, Charlie Mulliner, Jon Woldfield, and Jon Walpole.

The vibe

@edinburghreviews

Birdy found herself in the Magical Spiegelyurt, where Lost Cabaret: Nonsense in the Night is exactly what it sounds like. #edfringe #fringe2023 #fillyerboots

♬ Super ~ cheerful circus clown mood theme – SOUND BANK

The vibe as we went into the Magical Spiegelyurt was one of anticipation, as David Tieck stood at the front of the room holding the kind of bell you’d find at a front desk, as if ready to ‘ding’ it. I really wanted to ding it, but apparently it wasn’t for me.

I sat right at the front. As everyone shuffled in, I took in the majestical surroundings, and once again thought to myself that this is a really fun venue. As we’re all sat on benches, and as David’s arm starts to hurt, eventually the show begins with quite an entrance from Sharney Emma Nougar.

The audience is told to chant along with ‘BABOUSHKA, DAN, DAN’ and everything gets a bit more surreal as Sharney starts to shed her clothes and reveals many merkins in places where you wouldn’t expect hair to be. We’re being treated to one of the strangest burlesque performances I’ve seen this year!

Fabulous. We’ve all instantly joined a cult. The tone is set, and it only gets more nonsensical from here.

I wish I’d recorded more of the acts in the TikTok to the right (I was a bit too mesmerised), but this at least captures some of what I saw that night!

The show itself

I was promised nonsense in the night, and I certainly got it. It was night, there was nonsense, and I really enjoyed various aspects of the show in that it was such a mixed bag of random absurdity that you had no choice but to just go along with it.

Some of the other highlights for me (aside from BABOUSHKA, DAN DAN!) were Bobby Goldfinn not getting through a single joke thanks to his goldfish memory, and Callum Stratford getting way too up close and personal with some sunscreen.

I probably won’t forget the Duncan brothers with their unhinged performance as Jeremy Segway in a hurry, either (although I did get nervous they were going to fall right on top of me on occasion, with the rugs and cables on the floor creating a slightly health and safety hazard).

Audience participation was also a thing. At one point, a few couples in the audience were encouraged to get up and waltz, which also made me slightly nervous, but everyone seemed to be having fun, so again you just have to go with it.

I was highly entertained throughout Lost Cabaret: Nonsense in the Night, and if you like your comedy cabaret on the weirder side, or just want to see a memorable show you can tell your friends about later, this is a good shout.

Overall

I had a really fun time at Lost Cabaret: Nonsense in the Night, and thanks to these surreal shenanigans, it cemented what I hope was the weirdest night at this year’s Fringe – but, there’s still time yet! Because this is a variety show, the acts do change every night, so no two nights are ever the same.

I’d recommend going to along to this show if you want to mix things up a bit this Fringe – and if you want to experience the Magical Spiegelyurt for yourselves!