Cabaret: Nadja Maleh keeps the punchlines high

The “Syrolian” Nadja Maleh gives the audience a real feel-good evening. Their stereotypical characters fit well into the overall picture. She was one of the first women in modern cabaret and shows that humor is gender-fair.

Well-established and yet completely new. As in the past, Nadja Maleh plays her parodies on guys from different parts of the world in her new program. But in the meantime, the stereotypical characters fit so well into the play that there is no stale followingtaste. On the contrary: the Indian mediator of flat wisdom named Mandala, known from previous programs, specifically addresses racism in the current program: “To all my racist friends: Remember, your shadow is also black”.

For many years, Nadja Maleh, who describes herself as a Syrian (father from Syria, mother from Tyrol), has revealed the multiple personalities that live in her in cabaret – and that we all know from everyday life. The “press” counted 20 characters that Maleh impersonated this time. As always, Marion Dimali directed it.

“After 50, Happy and Birthday go their separate ways”

The latest work “Bussi Bussi” premiered on March 1st at CasaNova Vienna. The applause and laughter were loud and hearty. Like this saying: “I’m 50 now. That’s when Happy and Birthday start to go their separate ways.” Maleh plays with the experience of an artist who, just a few years ago, was the only woman on the stage, often the quota woman . Today, female comedians no longer have to explain themselves. Maleh shows that humor is gender-fair. Both men and women get the same smacks, as in the scene: She: “Do I have too few breasts?” He: “Well, two are ok anyway.”

En passant, Maleh leafed through the still severe misogyny in commercials and immediately followingwards imparted science in Turkish rap. The density of punchlines is high: “Couples? They’re just people who failed when they were single.” Sometimes it seeps longer, sometimes the joke is put on (“Politicians are people with a background in corruption”). Professor Huber, who is known from earlier programs, describes her snack and says: “My sausage sandwich is scientifically proven.” On the other hand, Melanie from Styria and Ramona from Saxony have not become smarter even following almost 20 years. These fictitious people are not only important to the cabaret artist, the audience is also happy regarding the recognition effect.

With mindfulness and music to the Ballermann hit

Maleh recently completed training as a mindfulness trainer and weaves tips for more serenity and for dealing better with oneself and one’s environment into the stage show. So she gives the audience a real feel-good evening, where none of the big crises get a chance to speak. And the characters, who are initially presented in a casual manner, finally come together in a showdown à la Rosamunde Pilcher.

Anyone who knows Maleh knows that music is her passion. The entire program is interspersed with easy-going, funny and lovely songs (composer: Matthias Bauer). A cracker ends the evening: your Ballermann song called “Schwimmnudel”. The hall is raging and one really wishes that the song would be a hit that would also make Maleh rich and famous away from the cabaret bars.

CD and dates

Nadja Maleh is also a musician. The CD is already Volume 3. Here you can listen: https://nadjamaleh.com/shop/#SONG3

Term here:

9.3. until 11.3. at the Graz Theater Cafe

16. 3. CasaNova Vienna