No, everything was not to everyone’s satisfaction. Despite the warm applause in the hall. Despite the great amazement at some surprises. And despite the countless compliments that were exchanged afterwards. But Markus Söder was extremely satisfied with his own double. “He passed his baptism of fire” and “he did it very well”, so the Prime Minister judged Thomas Unger after the Nockherberg Singspiel.
The 53-year-old had to face a special challenge. After 15 years he took over the Söder role from Stephan Zinner at the Nockherberg. After the error-free performance, Unger admitted to being nervous: “But it goes away with every sentence that makes it out of your mouth without stumbling.” Söder’s language was a special task for him. Unger was born in Munich, Söder in Nuremberg. It was difficult to mutate into a Franconian, the Franconian admitted and gave recognition: Zinner had always played him as a striker and urger, Unger had now given the character the maturity that was now necessary. He could get used to the sight: “Now he has just started. He should have been around for ten years,” said Söder about his own and thus also Ungers’ Nockherberg perspectives. After all: “My wife liked it too.”
Ousted from the leading role: Antonia von Romatowski was allowed to make a brief guest appearance as Angela Merkel – at least.
(Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa)
Nikola Norgauer, here with “Chancellor” Antonia von Romatowski, has already played many roles in the Singspiel. It was her debut as Olaf Scholz.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
Whether rough-and-ready outdoorsman or sensitive monastic brother: Unger has already proven his versatility in TV films. It was his first appearance at Nockherberg. Nikola Norgauer, on the other hand, has a lot of routine there: Ursula von der Leyen, Natascha Kohnen and Andrea Nahles have already parodied her. And since this year it should definitely be clear that she can slip into any role. “Super” Söder praised her portrayal of Olaf Scholz, and the even greater Scholz expert Dieter Reiter agreed: “Anyone who really knows his gestures and facial expressions has to say – that was extremely good.”
Maier? miller? Huber? Just as the CSU General Secretary Martin Huber felt in the Singspiel (even his boss Markus Söder constantly confused the name there because he apparently hardly knew it), Roland Schreglmann felt the same way when preparing for his first Nockherberg role: He had to work on his character first. “I had to google it,” he admitted frankly on the BR microphone when asked if he knew who this Martin Huber actually was. According to Schreglmann, there are many speeches by Huber, but hardly any moving images. He finally found what he was looking for in Huber’s social media offers, only this week he discovered a sequence there from which he could learn the typical hand position. The real Martin Huber found it “sensational”: “I had fun.”
As CSU General Secretary Martin Huber, Roland Schreglmann was always full of admiration for CSU boss Markus Söder.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
Thomas Unger slipped into the role of the Bavarian Prime Minister for the first time, next to Hubert Aiwanger with his stand-in Stefan Murr (from left).
(Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa)
Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger was similarly enthusiastic about his stand-in Stefan Murr: “He did an excellent job. Almost better than the original.” He is considering hiring Murr as a stand-in for campaign appearances. What the free voter boss should consider: Murr has also given Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU), Florian Pronold (SPD) and Andreas Scheuer (CSU) at Nockherberg in the past – and for most it went after that career-wise rather downhill.
Sina Reiß and Katharina Schulze form a meanwhile well-established duo. “What women’s power,” the Green Party leader praised her double: “She shook up the island full of men as it should.” As Schulze, Reiß sang on stage with verve against the “pimmel policy”, and what came to her mind afterwards could also have come from Schulze: “I just love this song. That speaks to the soul of many women, of whom I can would have liked a few more in the hall today.” At least one woman gave direct praise for it. “My mom has already sent me a Whatsapp: ‘You/she was great,'” said Schulze.
Christian Pfeil as Christian Lindner, Thomas Limpinsel as Robert Habeck and Sina Reiß as Katharina Schulze (from left).
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
Gerhard Wittmann gave the Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter, who worked underground.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
As CDU leader Friedrich Merz, David Zimmerschied went hunting with a harpoon.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
Meanwhile, Gerhard Wittmann and Dieter Reiter also form a well-grooved team. “I just like the way he plays me. It’s sensational,” said the mayor of Munich, praising his lookalike, which this time came with a miner’s lamp and underground overalls in the colors of the Munich Kindl and regularly climbed onto the stage with a shovel dug. “You have to be good at yoga,” said Wittmann about this form of representation of an underground mayor.
So everything fine? Not quite. At least one of them didn’t really like one character, which could have more political reasons than acting reasons. David Zimmerschied, the nephew of cabaret artist Sigi Zimmerschied, made his Nockherberg debut as CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Externally, he came so close to his role model that CSU boss Markus Söder felt uncomfortable: “It wasn’t ideal. That’s not the case for Friedrich Merz to be portrayed as idiotic. It could have been done differently, more powerfully.” Yes, also thought Vice Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger: He really liked Merz as it was.