Home » Reviews » Cabaret » How Eva Von Schnippisch Single-Handedly Won WW2, Etcetera Theatre – Review
Credit: Stephanie Ware

How Eva Von Schnippisch Single-Handedly Won WW2, Etcetera Theatre – Review

Pros: Gut-bustingly funny, daring and witty.

Cons: Not recommended for those with conservative sensibilities . . .

Pros: Gut-bustingly funny, daring and witty. Cons: Not recommended for those with conservative sensibilities . . . Cabaret may not be for everyone, but How Eva Von Schnippisch Single-Handedly Won WW2 could make anybody smile. The show follows the life of Eva Von Schnippisch: a German underground cabaret star who is enlisted by the British to carry out espionage. Crazy, I know — and it only gets more bonkers. Walking into the intimate venue (Etcetera Theatre, located above The Oxford Arms), I did not know what to expect other than what is typical of cabaret: music, an emcee, maybe…

Summary

Rating

Unmissable!

Move over James Bond, Eva Von Schnippisch is now Britain’s best spy.

Cabaret may not be for everyone, but How Eva Von Schnippisch Single-Handedly Won WW2 could make anybody smile. The show follows the life of Eva Von Schnippisch: a German underground cabaret star who is enlisted by the British to carry out espionage. Crazy, I know — and it only gets more bonkers.

Walking into the intimate venue (Etcetera Theatre, located above The Oxford Arms), I did not know what to expect other than what is typical of cabaret: music, an emcee, maybe even some humour. The stage hardly provided a hint either, with an array of props placed on a table and a changing screen blocking sight of various wigs and costumes. But then out stepped Eva . . .

Stephanie Ware should be really proud of herself. Eva Von Schnippisch was an ideal host for a cabaret evening — the perfect mix of flamboyancy, wit and intrigue. She connected with the audience deeply, making the evening relaxed as well as enjoyable. Not only that, but Ware’s acting and singing abilities need to be applauded. She nailed every single accent and every single persona, making the one-woman show feel like it had a company of thirty. On top of that her timing was incredible, and she was able to handle any unforeseen situation with ease. In fact, some of her most impromptu jokes were her best.

The comedy itself was pure filth, but that is by no means a criticism. How Eva Von Schnippisch Single-Handedly Won WW2 was ballsy enough (sorry, inside joke — you had to be there) to go into territory most shows would not dream of.  At times I was practically crying with laughter at the shockingly brutal satire. It was so good that I did not even mind the late start of 9:30 pm!

In short, there was never a dull moment throughout the production. For those who missed the performance, I truly am sorry. Out of all the shows I’ve seen this year, this one tops them all. The plot had some amazing twists and the songs were not at all cheesy, but in fact sharp and catchy. If you have a devilish sense of humour and know a bit about the war (trust me, it will help you get the jokes) then this show is the one for you.

I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for further productions — the show ended with an ambiguous ‘To Be Continued’, so hopefully there will be another London tour soon!

Director: Stephanie Ware
Writer: Stephanie Ware
Producer: Stephanie Ware
Composer: Oliver Collier
Assistant Director: Michelle Roche
Booking Information: This show has now completed its run.

About Francessca Charlemagne

Francessca is an English student at King’s College London who prefers the term ‘aspiring novelist and playwright’. But don’t get her wrong, she’s no expert, merely a lover and fanatic of all things theatrical, whether it’s but-gusting comedy or haunting drama. Having acted from an early age, the only thing Francessca potentially loves more than the stage is food. Or cats. It’s a tough one, really.

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