Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Outrageous international cabaret star MEOW MEOW does a whole lot more than just purr at Joe’s Pub

• By drediman
• March 11, 2025
• No Comments

Last week, international cabaret star Meow Meow took up residency at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, where she did a whole lot more than just purr. The European chanteuse first caught my attention many years ago with her unabashed subversiveness and fearless antics. Over the years, she’s traded in her unfiltered — and arguably unsustainable — outrageousness for a more balanced performance style, overtly looking to the past for inspiration for her shows. As such, she’s become as much a knowledgeable historian and an inadvertent keeper of the cabaret flame as she is a downtown performer.

By primarily basking in both the French cabaret tradition and the atmospheric world of the Weimar Republic, Meow Meow brings a conscious sense of history — and her place in the continuum — in her shows. Channeling the performance styles of cabaret legends such as Marlene Dietrich and Lotte Lenya, her stage persona is as much exaggerated parody as it is loving homage. Having collaborated with major symphony orchestras and pop outfits likes of Pink Martini — as well as having performed at major cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall — Meow Meow has also evolved into an eclectic cabaret artist, embracing not only the European cabaret songbooks of Michel Legrand, Kurt Weill, and Jaques Brel, but also the works of the likes of Gil Evans and Thom Yorke (of Radiohead).

As per usual, last week’s show relied on Meow Meow’s quick wit, uncanny intuition, and quirky physicality — resulting in some wildly unpredictable audience interaction. The late night show also found Meow Meow in a particularly outspoken mood, defiantly taking a stance against our current administration, which has actively sought to mute general efforts to champion diversity and inclusion. Singing in a dizzying mix of French, German, and English, she was in fine voice throughout, showcasing her sturdy belt and winkingly tongue-in-cheek way with songs. Some highlights included a hopeful “Where Flamingos Fly” (by Evans), an aching “Fake Plastic Trees” (by Radiohead, and a staple of hers), and a wacky “Ne Me Quitte Pas” (by Brel).

RECOMMENDED

MEOW MEOW
Cabaret
Joe’s Pub
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Closed