The revival of “Keep Cool” is the Swiss entertainment surprise of the year.
When the revival was announced a year ago, there was a great deal of skepticism. In 1992, “Keep Cool” was a product of its time: a world without social media or FOMO, where “diversity” was a foreign concept, and “macho” was a leading role, not a diagnosis. Since then, the landscape has shifted. The bar for musicals is set significantly higher today, even for Swiss productions. Can something like this still be done today?
Bastian Baker, who plays the title role, weighs in. He’s a good singer, a likable guy, and successful, of course. But “Keep Cool” thrives above all on its comedy. Back then, Marco Rima played the small-time macho with plenty of self-deprecating humor. Can Baker pull that off? Or will the whole thing turn into a “Remember the good old days?” throwback for a boomer audience?
The premiere at Theater 11 provided the answer: It works. And it fits. However, the production has been redesigned, expanded, and thoroughly revamped. The songs are recognizable, as are many of the scenes. On top of that, there’s a lot of new material, including new characters like the drag artist Chiquita. Daniel Bill turns this into one of the evening’s biggest surprises. Back in the ’90s, he stepped in a few times for Marco Rima in the lead role.
The rest of the ensemble is impressive as well. Viola Tami as Claire and Janin Anna Matt as Laura act, dance, and sing as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Newcomer Denia Weber as Giorgia deserves a special mention. She sings so well that the audience cheers, and she shines with her comedic talent.
And Bastian Baker? He’s got what it takes. He has the timing, he has a knack for the punchline, and he has the audience in the palm of his hand within minutes. With his foreign-language skills, he takes it up a notch.
Marco Rima, once the title character and creator of the musical, is now Big Daddy. The role was originally intended for Rob Spence. With Rima, it seems as though it were written specifically for him. As confident as ever.
Back in the ’90s, we were amazed by the dance crew. Compared to what’s on stage today, it almost looks like a country ballet—to put it bluntly. The same goes for the technology: a large LED screen, a hefty dose of (appropriately used) AI creations—all state-of-the-art for 2026. The live orchestra from back then is gone. It wasn’t missed.
The fact that you still recognize the show despite everything is thanks to the people behind the scenes. Isabelle Flachsmann, who played Laura in the original cast in 1992, is directing. The choreography is by Kati Farkas, who also had a leading role back then. Both of them know the original inside and out.
The story has fallen by the wayside. Let’s be honest: even back then, it was neither sophisticated nor pivotal to the plot. What remains is the framework. Big Daddy’s talent stage already existed in 1992; today, it operates according to the rules of reality TV talent shows and social media. If you want to stand out, you need a facade—and that’s exactly what the play takes apart. The world without social media from the original no longer exists. Surreal, absurd gags take care of the rest. Janin Anna Matt and Denia Weber, both 23, co-wrote the script. You can tell: The gags land almost without exception, even with younger audiences. Not cringey at all.
You’ve got to go see it. That goes for the half a million people who already saw “Keep Cool” in the ’90s, too. You haven’t seen anything yet! You’ll be amazed all over again.
The comedy musical “Keep Cool” runs through November 15 at Theater 11 in Zurich, then at the Musical Theater Basel (starting November 20) and at the KKL Lucerne (December 18 through January 8, 2027).