To the sounds of Wagner Bridal choir cabaret duo BROs appears on the scene. “We are here today to celebrate our friendship…” A funny wedding scene follows, which proves once again that the communication of ‘bros’ is sometimes incomprehensible to the outside world.
Ramses van Hall and Maurits Wijmenga are brothers, best friends. After graduating from drama school in 2023, they formed cabaret duo BRO’S. That same year they won the prestigious cabaret competition Cameretten.
Now there is a debut performance Bromensin which the duo serves up a series of separate scenes. The mutual relationships between constantly changing characters are examined in various ways. This produces several very nice scenes, but also several less successful baked goods.
Strong mutual chemistry
The duo’s major strengths are their strong chemistry and their playful and good acting. This results, for example, in a nice scene in which two characters attempt to… small talka sketch full of sharply timed physical and verbal discomfort. It’s a strong premise for a fun, sitcom-like scene: how do you have a conversation when you seemingly don’t have anything in common? “Is your name Rein ‘ei’ or ‘ij?’” one person tries. Or: “It’s a real shame about all those world problems.” It is very funny how one person, at his wits’ end, makes several valiant attempts to tell something about a “bowl from the time of the Ming dynasty”.
It is also original how the pair gives shape to the mutual connection between chair and table, both physically and vocally. It results in a nice staccato sung duet between the furniture pair. Indeed, you think: this is what a dining table sounds like (shrill), and this is what a dining room chair sounds like (high squeaky voice).
In the kind of sketch cabaret that BRO’S makes, the premise of a scene has to be extreme to work well. A funny or absurd fact must be taken far. Or in a very unexpected situation, the spotlight must suddenly be focused on a particular social phenomenon. The brothers don’t always succeed. A slapstick scene about standing in front of an audience without pants and a sketch about a meaningless conversation between two influencer-like friends lack originality and surprise.
No lame references
It is also a pity that the duo has opted for a recurring storyline between a sad orphan boy and a strict orphanage director. This scene isn’t interesting enough. It is also disturbing that previous characters ultimately come together rather vaguely.
The stage cabaret of BRO’S does not need a showy continuous storyline. Their best scenes contain no lame references to previous scenes. These scenes are closed, but at the same time slightly connected through the theme of inadequate communication. A funeral speech in which the speaker mainly tries to present himself in an attractive manner. Or an alienating conversation between a salesman and a kind of Louis van Gaal type, according to whom the conversation partner rarely has the right to speak. More original, alienating or extreme ideas like this and the BROs will become even more fun.
