Montezuma's Revenge Pop Art
October 28th 2006 - Pantheon Bonn
The Pantheon theater in Bonn has been on my list "I want to go there" for a long time. But I always thought
I would go there to see the Wise Guys. But I have to go to Germany now to see Montezuma's Revenge play Pop Art,
because in the Netherlands they are playing their new Dutch show.
Conclusion: Montezuma's Revenge in the Pantheon is a very good idea. Tickets were booked,
a free place to sleep was arranged, we would be accompanied by Martina and Maike, and there would
be some other people from the Wise Guys forum as well. All things to look forward to so much.
Unfortunately we couldn't go to Bonn at Thursday. That would have been great, to see Rock4 as well... but I
have to be patience with them. In January I'll see their new show.
Today we left early which gave us a bit of time to experience Bonn. I am amazed by the landscape south of Bonn.
There are mountains out there! (free translation of "No more I love you's" --> There are monsters outside!).
Ok, for German people they're just some "Hügel", but for someone from Holland they're real mountains.
The autumn colors are beautiful and we make a short walk by the Rhine. Martina, Maike and Peggy arrive and
together we travel by "U-bahn" to the city center. Another of those things which makes me feel on a holiday:
to take the U-bahn! I already love Bonn ;) We have an easy but delicious diner at Subway and then
we travel back (wow! again the U-bahn! what an experience haha) to the Pantheon.
Way too early (as always) we enter the Pantheon and settle down on the couches. And then we wait. Sanne
is trying to get some sleep in the corner of a couch, but after we enter the room, complete silence is gone.
Sorry, Sanne.
We can enter the theater at 7, but the queuing up starts just after half past 6. Really great... so we stand up and leave our comfortable couch to be the first in line. Half an hour later we get hold of table number 3, which is in the front and on the right. Aren't we too close? Dare we sit this close? Are we scared of what might happen during I want you back? I look to my left, discover two other women sitting with their husbands/boyfriends in the first row, and declare our places safe. After all, I've had my turn in Münster last March, and it really is a once in a life time experience. No, I feel just fine sitting here. I only warn the others to take care of their drinks, because our camera is lying on the table. I don't think the pictures will be a success if there's coke spilled over the camera...
Time flies when you're having fun, and it's 8 before we know it. The lights go out and a nervous feeling is coming over me because I'm about to see Pop Art again! I'm thrilled :D Montezuma's Revenge are wearing the clothes they now normally wear during the second part of the Montezuma Code (the new Dutch show in the Netherlands). Red shirts and white with black trousers. They start of with Beautiful and it's perfect except for the one note of Sanne. For those who read or took part of the discussion last year in the old VvZ-forum: You know of what note I speak. Personally I really don't like it when Sanne sings it this way, and later Peggy is speaking of the first song "where some of the notes were really out of tune".... Please Sanne, don't do it again! ;)
The show continues and the order of the songs has remained unchanged. Looking for a place to land, Another day and It'll come in time are the next songs. It's odd, because I know this show very well, but still I have to laugh out loud whenever something funny happens on stage. The Montezuma's are having a lot of fun as well. It's wonderful to see how well they know this show and the songs and how much they like performing it.
I'll be there for you is very funny in German. It's the first time I can really
take a good look at the puppets, because we are so close to them. Actually the puppets are very ugly, but who
cares. They're funny ;) The burp of Pauls little one is so loud, it makes the others laugh out loud. It takes
a short moment before they can end the song.
If I ain't got you is beautiful.
Silly, on the album I almost always skip the song, but live it's so nice to sit back and enjoy Pauls voice.
After this relaxed moment it's time for some interaction with the audience. We have to sing, three groups are
formed, the usual stuff.
But, when group 2 is getting their instructions, Menno notices me making a picture of Paul. Menno takes my camera to make a picture of us, and this causes such a huge laughter with Maike, and in her enthusiasm she hits my glass with Fanta on the floor (which was more than half full) and my knees, the table and the floor are soaking wet. But, most important: the camera is dry, because Menno was holding it. We can't hold our laughter and Hans is turning around and calls it a "private matter at table 3". Paul offers a tip of his shirt to wipe our table dry, but he changes his mind when he sees the amount of Fanta spoiled. By the way, the picture Menno made, is just before _the_ moment and it's not sharp. Pity he didn't push the button half a second later, that would have given a much funnier picture. With wet trousers and a sticky floor we sing our parts and enjoy Angels more than ever. Lucky I wasn't thirsty anymore ;)
The dance medley is starting and I'm always amazed by the body clapping, which is precise and timed so very well. Menno is murdered on the dance floor and falls down right in front of us, where he can have a little rest. That means, as long as he's not being tickled by Sanne, who bows over him to see if he's all right. It's pretty hard for Menno to play death this way haha.
Time to take a little break, and time to clean the floor. "What happened here?" a waiter asks. "Ach ja, diese verrückten Holländer..." I tell him ;)
After the break there's the crazy Maori Dance. The Montezuma's enter the stage so quickly and unexpected, it almost makes Maike jump out of her chair. And I can just laugh out loud again. Finally I find out the meaning of this stupid dance: There is no meaning. Smooth is coming next and at the end of the song we all lift our drinks from the table, because we are scared Sanne (who is standing right in front of us) forgets to break and lands on our table. Luckily he doesn't, and we can safely put our drinks back on the table. What an adventure, to sit so close ;) The adventure continues, because I want you back is the next song. The intro starts and a terribly nervous feeling is coming over me. Really, I don't want to be picked and I do know they won't pick me, but still... it's just a deja vu feeling. Shivers all over me and a big sigh of relief when Hans is standing still in front of the woman on the left. She clearly hasn't got a clue what's about to happen to her, and it's great to watch it from this point of view. There's not enough space for all the Montezuma's to get down the stage to kneel down in front of her, but Bert lies down on the table, Menno is standing on the table, Sanne is sitting on her knees, or with other words: She's covered with Zuma and her husband is watching this with a look on his face "Was ist das????". Just great :D
Breakfast in America and Falling in love again are beautiful today. Both songs were Paul sings a lead and I love them. Marlene on the wall is also one of my favorites. Sit back, relax and enjoy. Wow. 9 to 5 is next, and I notice the notebooks they're using are really old. In our group of friends we'd call them "stoeptegel" (paving stone). Anyway, it doesn't matter how old the notebooks are. Fact is, I notice it and that's silly.
Time in a bottle is next and even from this close the bottle looks like it's from glass. But still, it turns out to be fake and they audience is surprised by the magic trick. Sign 'o' the Times is one of my favorite songs during the show, mostly because of the great arrangement. If you're not the one and Livin' la vida loca follow up and I'm realizing the show is already getting to an end! Oh, I'm having such a great time, don't stop! But If I get you alone is the final song (officially). And it's another favorite song ;) Of all places, Bonn is the ultimate place to sing this song of course. And because we are so close, we finally discover how they do their magic tricks :D
They return one by one to receive a big applause. Then, Hans tells the audience about the new show in the
Netherlands, which is completely in Dutch: "And therefore, we will now sing a German song!" It's
Gib mir Musik, which in the new Dutch show is called Ik wil muziek. Great to
hear this song in German today and we're dancing in our chairs. After that, there's another extra song,
The lion! A great ending of today, and the song goes on forever it seems. Sanne has
to clear his throat, and takes a big sip of someone's beer. After that he's able to do the Tarzan-scream. Menno
and Bert together are great to watch. Not only during this song, but during the complete evening. They're a
hilarious duo. Secretly I'm hoping for "Sunshine on Leith", but no... the show is over, and Montezuma's Revenge
can start enjoying their 3-days holiday. A rare phenomenon until the end of December.
After the show we hang around for a while, and then drive to Brühl, where we will sleep. The fun after a concert is just as much fun as the fun we had before. And we all agree on one thing: We have never seen Montezuma's Revenge in such a good mood, so enthusiastic and so full of energy on stage. And the Pantheon? Great theater, I think we'll get back there, one day.
More pictures will be available soon at the Montezuma Fanzone.