Cake has the power to turn a grey Monday into a day of celebration. Monday the 17th of March, comedian Hilde Nygaard, brought her first solo show “Bløtkake” (eng: Cream Cake) to a packed Vuelie. Through song, laughter, and lots of audience interaction, Nygaard answered questions such as: How does the King wish you a happy 100th birthday? Is it possible to find Jesus in the basement of Samfundet? And what are we supposed to do with life?

Hilde Nygaard is a blooming Norwegian entertainer with a strong sense of musical comedy. The crowd at Vuelie consisted of both long time fans, many referring to her popular song snippets on social media, and audience members having their first experience with her comedy. Nygaard opens the show by explaining why she chose to name her first comedy show “Bløtkake”, pointing out how there is always a “Bløtkake” at the big celebrations in life, but no one ever celebrates the “Bløtkake” itself. In the show’s introductory song, she brings up the uncertainties with growing up, joking that “it is all alright as long as you have a job”, which caused audience members to laugh agreeingly to both the message and the melody. The show continues with many personal anecdotes from the comedian’s own life, joined by entertaining, musical numbers, eliciting laughter and sing-alongs from the enthusiastic audience. While the show includes many seemingly random elements, such as a song about gift cards and a moving rendition of Nicki Minaj, the show still manages to tie each element towards the overarching theme of ‘how to live life’, particularly brought together by the comedian’s ending commentary.

“Bløtkake” is a different, but important addition to this year’s festival and its theme “power”. Nygaard’s show succeeds in taking the larger events of life, which may seem heavy and overwhelming to many, and making them more lighthearted, less scary, and easier to carry. This is a valuable message and experience for many young people, who may feel powerless in the process of “growing up”, fearing that they have no control over their lives. In a time where the future is often painted black by media and public discourse, “Bløtkake” serves as a healthy reminder of the power we do yield in our own life. Perhaps more importantly, Nygaard reminds the audience that even when life does not go as planned, it is not the end of the world, and that losing control can be a good thing.

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As for the question “what are we supposed to do with life?”, Nygaard's 105 year old friend Odd, who makes multiple, digital appearances throughout the show, answers:

"You have to figure that one out yourself"

NB! The show was performed in Norwegian. All translations have been rendered by the author.