Sexual, sensual, dramatic, larger-than-life and passionate. “Leave your troubles outside,” and enter The Cabaret at the Wharton Center.
Set against the backdrop of pre-World War 2 Berlin, Cabaret transports you to the seedy yet somehow glamorous underbelly of the Berlin party scene just as the Nazi regime was gaining steam. The beginning is a gin soaked, timeless tale of two souls falling in love, speckled with sexual experimentation, rousing medley's, and an ensemble of sassy dancing girls and boys.
With a fast paced, driven story line; Cabaret brings the audience into a world that is saucy, tongue-in-cheek humored, and at times delightfully raunchy.
The national tour of Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall’s Tony Award winning production of Cabaret makes the outside world seem like it no longer exists, as the audience is transported to Berlin at the beginning of the rise of the Nazi Party, when “It was the end of the world.”
The production has the audience leave their troubles outside, as they enter the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, along with Sally Bowles and a tantalizing ensemble has the audience embrace the sexuality of the performance, and underlying message of standing up for what you believe is right.
The show makes you feel like you are actually watching a cabaret, with musical numbers, acting and dances that catch the eye, and pull you fully into the story-line of Sally Bowles, played by Leigh Ann Larkin; and an American writer, Clifford Bradshaw, played by Benjamin Eakeley, looking for a place to draw inspiration and find his voice to write his novel. And, oh does he find his story with the salacious misfits and casts of Cabaret.
Bradshaw is renting a room from a spinster (played by Mary Gordon Murray). She falls in love with a Jewish widower courting her, and wooing her with exotic fruits, Herr Schultz (played by Scott Robertson.) This highlights the beginning of German racism towards Jewish citizens.
The Emcee, performed by Jon Peterson, who is a veteran of Roundabout’s Cabaret on Broadway, does an excellent job at entertaining the audience, and truly making one feel like they are in the Kit Kat Klub.
Eakeley and Larkin’s performances are beyond grandeur, as is the entire cast’s. Captivating and entrancing, they pull the audience into their private life and behind the stage.
Their voices are powerful as they sing famous songs from the production (celebrating its 50th anniversary), transcends the audience, and some of the dance numbers the theater-goers can’t help but laugh, and hoot and holler.
The play shows the fast and entertaining driven life of Sally and Clifford, and as they enter into the next chapter together when Sally tells Clifford she is pregnant, and while the First Act is sizzling and sexual, it takes a turn when it is found out that Bradshaw’s friend, Ernst Ludwig, is a Nazi.
The production touches on topics that are still relevant 50 years later, including abortion, marriage, homosexuality, promiscuity, sexuality and tolerance.
Even if you have seen the show numerous times before, this is one you will want to see again as there are ever changing nuances and a production that will have you leave the theater thinking about life and events in the world. For those who are seeing it for the first time, be prepared for a whirlwind trip with laughter, joy and heart-clenching decisions.
