The "kitchen" in the Alte Schmelz was prepared. Twelve cabaret chefs dissected the current political situation, social trends, and deep emotions over four evenings. They mixed countless ingredients such as diabolical juggling, hymn-like or swinging songs, well-known and self-made instruments, philosophical reflections, and acrobatic exercises. As seasoning, there were sharp-tongued assessments, fragile masculinity, bloody diaries, vengeful ideas, fairy-tale analyses, extraordinary skills, and ambiguous facial expressions. In this way, the artists presented the audience and judges of the St. Ingbert cabaret competition "Die Pfanne" with a colorful, humorous, and inspiring menu. "Head waiter" and performance poet Philipp Scharrenberg served the "dishes"—now for the twelfth time—with charmingly packaged German studies knowledge and subtle rhymes.
“After four days, you are a bit tired,” says a cabaret lover and regular visitor, “but you won’t find such abundant and diverse humor anywhere else.” This was also the main message of many presentations: humor helps to stay strong even in difficult times. Besides most of the artists, the moderator Scharrenberg also pointed out that the last few years have been especially hard times for cabaret artists. His clear request to the audience: enjoy art not on the screen in your living room, but together with other people in the theater, because only there it can truly be experienced. Ingo Nietert, head of the cultural department of the city of St. Ingbert, emphasizes this concern. Given the current situation, he is satisfied with this year’s attendance figures, as he stresses, although many seats in the hall remained empty. “Furthermore, I am proud that we have survived the corona pandemic without interruption because we always found a solution that complied with the regulations.” Many hands and minds are involved in making such an event happen and delight the audience. “I thank all artists, organizers, helpers, and staff for their dedication. Die Pfanne is an institution in Germany – and it should remain so in the future.”
Cooking and serving are complete – now it’s time to wait for the jury’s verdict. The city of St. Ingbert is keeping its fingers firmly crossed for all the artists!
