Decided to give this show another chance the other day. I'm honestly not sure if I like it much better than Entwined or Roll Out The Barrel, both of which I loathed.
The whole thing feels fake to me. Rather than an attempt at authenticity, OktoberZest felt like a more polished version of Clocktoberfest or Wunderbarn in that it's based off of the German "feel" without an understanding of the culture it's representing, or an attempt to convey such an understanding to the audience. (Fortunately, unlike the two Illuminights shows, this show did not make me want to hurl myself into the Rhine.) To me, Oktoberzest was to German culture what fortune cookies are to Chinese culture.
I found myself cringing throughout the show. The opening "happy slappers" routine was awkward and, since it was so quiet, lacked the presence or grandeur necessary to grab the audience's attention. This would be a decent "filler" segment while the rest of the cast prepares for the next main scene, but on its own it's a weak opening. I would prefer a lively musical number to start the show, ideally with live musicians.
Many of the dances, except for the "traditional" German dances, looked frenzied and uncoordinated, as if the cast was just sort of bustling about the stage. I wish the show stuck to more traditional dances, as they seemed more graceful and more coordinated.
I actually thought glockenspiel/wood-chopping scene was really cool in its own right, and I sort of wish the entire show had taken on that sort of theme. Actually, if OktoberZest had gone totally balls-out in tying all of the show's number and its performers to the steampunk-ish clock theme, I think it would have been much more interesting. It's a unique concept that I wish the park had explored more. Unfortunately, since the show never seems to find its footing on exactly what type of show it wants to be, the wood-chopping scene does feel out of place.
The Country Roads segment has already been beaten to death on here, but I will say I totally agree that it is out of place and makes no sense in a German show. Even if the song is popular in Germany, it's the equivalent of serving McDonald's at a Mexican restaurant because McDonald's is popular in Mexico.
The final song, "All The Folks In Gemany," seems juvenile and I can only imagine that the song's premise that "all the folks in Germany" count 1-2-3 is a little insulting to German viewers. I just found it annoying.
I may have just come on a bad day, but the audience did not seem into the show at all. My brother even remarked to me that he "felt bad" for the talented performers, trying to scare up enthusiasm for a lackluster production that was beyond their control.
Overall, the show seems discombobulated, like a mix of themes and concepts jammed together. The combination of "modern" German dance, traditional dance and classic German songs, American country music, steampunk and wood-chopping, and American music revue-type songs just don't mix, in my opinion. As I said, I wish the park had capitalized on the "glockenspiel" theme, creating a modern and unique showcase of steampunk sprinkled with hints of German culture. It would have made the show cohesive and made it look less like a half-assed attempt to convey "authenticity."
Still, I would prefer that Busch move away from their "stage type" shows in the Festhaus and get back to a show that merely compliments the eatery. I see Das Festhaus as primarily a restaurant, so I would love to see a show that blends into the background, rather than one that turns the Festhaus into a dinner theater.
From start to finish, I still found myself missing a show like This Is Oktoberfest. Segments like the happy slappers and Country Roads made me long for a true German show in the Festhaus, while the more traditional segments reminded me of a time when an authentic German show ruled the Festhaus.