The dinner show MAFIA MIA! has kicked off the new season with a sold-out premiere. Chapter 13 of the saga takes the audience to Venice and straight into a digital e-bill hack. For me, it was also a premiere and a surprisingly modern encounter with Dresden's favorite mafia family.
A full OSTRA Dome and a personal premiere
There wasn't a seat to be had at the OSTRA Dome opening night - MAFIA MIA! continues to attract loyal fan communities after more than a decade. For many, the dinner show is now an integral part of Dresden's pre-Christmas program. For me, on the other hand, it was my first visit to this now legendary production by First Class Concept.
After just a few minutes, it becomes clear why the show has been so successful for years: the mixture of comedy, music, artistry and continuous story intertwines seamlessly and creates exactly the energy you expect from a dinner show evening.
And the story itself is particularly contemporary this year: a trip to Venice - albeit less romantic and more digital-crime.
E-bill hack, bitcoins and an explanatory video in "show-with-a-mouse" style
In the 13th chapter of the saga, Il Padrone and Don Girotti (played by Tom Pauls) plan a large-scale e-bill hack. Payments are to be intercepted undetected, diverted to a secret numbered account and laundered in Bitcoin.
A lovingly produced clip explains to the audience how cryptocurrencies work - in the style of "Sendung mit der Maus" and including a guest appearance by "Mutti". An unexpected, but very amusing moment that also picks up those who have had little to do with blockchain so far.
However, the digital business partnership between the two mafiosi begins to falter when Il Padrone wants his bitcoins sooner. What follows is the beginning of a kidnapping - and a serious mix-up.
The wrong kidnapping and a singer you can't get rid of
Don Girotti's daughter was supposed to be kidnapped in order to obtain the second part of the password. But the singer Aqua Marina, played by Rita Lynch, is kidnapped by mistake. The character becomes the comedic centerpiece of the evening: she keeps popping up, disrupting plans, interfering - and providing some of the strongest moments of the show.
Her burlesque number is a novelty in the MAFIA-MIA world and brings a new stylistic facet to the show. In the end, it turns out that Aqua Marina plays an important role in the Bitcoin deal - but for whom? This resolution is one of the successful surprises of the evening.
Despite these lively scenes, the Dresden audience remained conspicuously silent at first. Perhaps the atmosphere first had to warm up or a glass or two more had to be drunk. An insider later said with a laugh that it had started in a similarly restrained manner with Rammstein in the "Rinne". Italian emotions sometimes meet Saxon contemplation.
Strong musical acts and TikTok moments that surprise
Musically, the live band The Firebirds confidently lead through the evening, including a pure a cappella medley based on TikTok trends, which particularly inspires younger guests or those who are young at heart. Between artistry, comedy and music, there is hardly a moment without energy: beatbox, pop songs, rock'n'roll and a variety of Italian hits contribute to a dense atmosphere.
At the latest for the after-show party, when visitors from the OSTRA Dome and Chapiteau der Träume mingle, Dresden's restraint also noticeably dissolves.
A fantastic show evening, with a great 3-course menu with two small preliminary stages...I almost forgot. ;-)
