Where Are We Now

See it if You’re a David Bowie fan or if you enjoyed Hedwig and The Angry Inch. Not only is his voice almost exactly like Bowie’s his presence is too.

Don't see it if You’re not a David Bowie fan.

See it if If you like the music of David Bowie sing magnificently with little stories in between the songs. Two very enjoyable hours.

Don't see it if If you do not like cabaret style musicals. If you dont like David Bowie songs.

See it if Impeccable, lyrical versions of Bowie songs with creative piano accompaniment. Good audience connection. Funny improvisation.

Don't see it if You don't like solo cabaret acts. Perhaps too lyrical -- with just an artsy piano, and no drums, bass, or guitar, it lacked bite.

See it if ur a Bowie fan & want to see an extraordinarily talented & charismatic Dutch cabaret performer salute The Thin White Duke in story & song.

Don't see it if you expect a playlist of greatest hits [Familiar songs are mixed with deep cuts]; you aren't a Bowie fan [Is there such a person?!].

Also Sven Ratzke: Remember that name. With a significant following throughout Europe & Australia, this electrifying, creative, androgynous actor/singer/performance artist (& scion of Ziggy Stardust) will surely conquer America next.... Read more Read less

See it if you love the David Bowie songbook & would like to hear a respectful but inventive exploration of a fraction of it.

Don't see it if you are expecting a play, or already know you do not like the David Bowie songbook, or can’t sit for 2+ hours.

Also Sven Ratzke has a rich, supple baritone that can soar when it needs to. Over the course of this 2-hour show he uses it with emotional intelligence, never straining for effect, not something I feel about every cabaret singer. This makes him an ideal interpreter of the Bowie songbook: Never a cheap copyist, his versions, while paying tribute to the original, are his own—sometimes in a way that startles & delights. The patter between numbers could use editing down. I appreciated the prevailing contemplative mood of the singing throughout the night, allowing the artist to explore the material’s emotional nuance, but I’d have loved to hear Ratzke rock out on one of Bowie’s early up-tempo chart hits. His version of the later “Let’s Dance” is strong, but that’s a slow song as dance hits go. These are quibbles. Anyone wanting to understand at a gut level Bowie’s relationship to the cabaret tradition will learn a lot here, & be touched as well.... Read more Read less

See it if you like voice and piano - this is an excellent cabaret act sung with passion and accompanied by the best piano playing I have ever heard!

Don't see it if you are looking for a play, do not appreciate the edgy Bowie songs or are not interested in how this all came about.

See it if EU cabaret performer inhabits his subject with such intensity that only a true stan could articulate, and a devotee could appreciate.Piano!

Don't see it if The repertoire elects to mine gems that fit mood and story, not necessarily the ones that you think you're missing. Hauntingly eerie.

Also "You know. You know." Otherworldly.

See it if You enjoy a tribute show where the performer gives his own take

Don't see it if You are expecting a typical play or musical. Or if you are hoping he will play the songs exactly as bowie did

Also Unlike the other tribute show I saw this week, this performer put his own take on things. Song choices were great. The storytelling was great. He has a great voice And an excellent piano player .
Very warm in the basement so make sure you take your coat off before it starts... Read more Read less

See it if you love great cabaret shows or are a David Bowie fan. His renditions of Bowie classics are hauntingly dead on. GREAT piano arrangements!

Don't see it if you're not a fan of the cabaret format or need to have big spectacle. This is pure entertainment at its best.

See it if You want to see a moving cabaret dedicated to Bowies life and music.. great pianist...

Don't see it if you don't like intimate cabaret style shows..

See it if 2 acts, 2hrs, 1 intermission, 1 singer & 1 pianist (both highly talented); The actor has full control of stage, bring us to Berlin, London..

Don't see it if Plain set; Spotlight turns the room hot; Acoustic at La Mama basement is passable - thank god the singer is skillful with the mic!

Also I knew nothing about David Bowie or his music before the show. I will do my homework after this show.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a big Bowie fan & you're open to interpretations of his songs. Sven is great when it comes to Bowie covers. Great song choices too.

Don't see it if you prefer cabaret shows with a big band & lots of musicians b/c this is intimate with just a piano accompaniment (though he's excellent!)

Also I saw the show on Sunday 12/15 & it was very WARM in the theater. I was practically sweating even though I had already shed my coat & my outer layer! Dress appropriately!... Read more Read less

See it if into a first-rate entertainer taking on Bowie

Don't see it if cabaret is just not for you

Also Many of Bowie songs are hard to cover - they are strongly connected to his personas, his experiments. Sven Ratzke resolves this by bringing out his Bowie-esque side so his interpretations are still in that realm while also authentic. He is an expressive singer and a major joker, providing an all-Sven hilarious banter. It would be hard to satisfy all of DB's fans, but this attempt is admirable.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a die hard Bowie fan and you want to hear his songs performed in a cabaret style.

Don't see it if You expect to hear more music than just talking. Plus the choice of songs could be much better.

See it if Charming Dutch talent, delivering rare perfor of 1ofthe most innovative musici ofthe XXcent,accomp by an It virtuoso pianist on a cozy set

Don't see it if uninterested in Bowie Classics like:"Let's Dance","Heroes","Ashes to Ashes"or"Where Are We Now".

Also I closed my eyes and for a few minutes Sven Ratzke brought me back to David's
London.He sounds and looks like him.
Very seldom does one find a rendition with so much authenticity. I will keep my eyes on Sven who will perform @ The Public Theater in May !!!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a great entertainer accompanied by a highly skilled pianist, doing Bowie

Don't see it if You can't sit on the most uncomfortable seating at any important venue in NYC for 2+ hours.

Also Sven is a super freak not be be missed . He will be great in the upcoming Rocky Horror Picture Show for sure. Hope they bring it to America.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to be totally entertained and love the songs of David Bowie

Don't see it if You do not like one man shows or want a drama

See it if You love the David Bowie oeuvre, BUT, even if you don't, you will still enjoy the show and all the songs will seem even fresher and relevant

Don't see it if Cabaret and night-club-like music acts are not to your liking.

Also Mr. Sven Ratzke goes beyond paying tribute to the songs of Mr. David Bowie. He weaves his inspirational origin story and beguiles his audience into going with him on a two-hour tour of the outer margins of the space that is the creative imagination.

I enjoyed this show so much more because I was not at all familiar with most of the songs interpreted by Mr. Ratzke. So they felt new and fresh. The intimate nature of La MaMa's Downstairs performance space perfectly framed this show as a private concert given to a selective group of lucky fans. It felt conspiratorial and joyful. A celebration of David Bowie as the icon of a unique way of interpreting and telling about how he saw the world to a perpetual audience.

Mr. Ratzke went above and beyond channeling the Bowie artistic spirit, he framed his journey as one of eternal child-like curiosity and individuality. Thus, only New York City could have been Mr. Bowie's home.

...and, Christian Pabst, the show's arranger and pianist is superb!... Read more Read less

See it if If you like cabaret or David Bowie or go and be surprised or all three. Catch it now before he goes on world tour.

Don't see it if You don’t like cabaret, Bowie or pleasant surprises.

See it if you are a fan of David Bowie's career, music or even style.

Don't see it if you're not into tribute performances.

See it if It was just talented Sven Ratzke and a great piano player for two enchanting hours about David Bowie and his music. It went by too quickly.

Don't see it if Even if you don’t know or don’t like about David Bowie’s music, you will be entertained.

See it if you feel the world went to hell when David Bowie died & you want to have a profoundly emotional reunion w The Starman thru v gifted Sven

Don't see it if you expect a Bowie bio or big staging. This is pure piano, Dutch/German cabaret w David Lynch-ian storytelling & out of this world vocals

Also My 4thX (?) seeing Sven & I’ll never miss one of his shows if I can help it. Angelic & androgynous & a little bit naughty. Sincere & silly & the best interpreter of Bowie I’ve ever seen or heard. Astounding & unmissable.... Read more Read less

See it if you like the music of David Bowie and enjoy Cabaret shows with a great interpreter.

Don't see it if you want to see an expensive musical or a big show. This is an intimate show with an extremely talented performer.

See it if you like David Bowie, cabaret shows, quirky performers, and great singing/piano playing

Don't see it if you don't like the music of David Bowie or one-man (plus a pianist) shows

See it if You love the music of David Bowie. You enjoy great storytelling and singing.

Don't see it if You don’t like one-person performances. You don’t enjoy the music of David Bowie.