Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Directed by Jim
McMullen
Canberra Philharmonic
Society
Erindale Theatre,
July 10 – 26, 2014
Review by Len Power
10 July 2014
‘Cabaret’
is one of those musicals that some directors see as an opportunity to lay on
the sleaze and audience confrontation with a trowel. Director, Jim McMullen, resists temptation
and gets it right in Canberra Philharmonic’s terrific new production.
Based
on Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 novel, ‘Goodbye to Berlin’ and the John Van
Druten play from 1951, ‘I Am A Camera’, the original 1966 Broadway production
of ‘Cabaret’ ran for over a thousand performances. In Australia, a 1971 production originated at
the National Theatre in Perth with Nancye Hayes as Sally Bowles and Jon Ewing
as the Emcee and toured Australia with Bunny Gibson as Sally. The hit 1972 film starring Liza Minnelli
really put the musical on the map for general audiences and the stage version,
with various changes to the music score, has had constant revivals internationally
ever since.
Set
in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it’s based on nightlife at the
seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the 19-year-old English cabaret
performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American writer
Cliff Bradshaw.
As
the fascinating Sally Bowles, Kelly Roberts expertly captured Christopher
Isherwood’s original description of the character. Her singing of the title song was
masterful. Angel Dolejsi gave a strong
performance as the repellent Emcee of the Kit Kat Klub and displayed his
considerable dance skills, especially in ‘Two Ladies’, with excellent support
from Kirsten Haussmann and Beth Deer.
Mat Chardon O’Dea sang very well and showed an appealing warmth to Cliff
Bradshaw. Ros Engledow as Fraulein
Schneider, the land lady, and Ian Croker as her suitor, Herr Schultz, gave very
real and heart-breaking performances.
Dave Smith gave a performance of great depth as the likeable Ernst
Ludwig, who turns out to be not so nice after all. Kitty McGarry as the prostitute, Fraulein
Kost, gave a delightfully amusing performance in the role. The large ensemble gave great support to the
principal players.
Set
designers, Ian Croker and Jim McMullen have filled the stage with an attractive
and spectacular set that worked perfectly for the Kit Kat Klub scenes and the
more intimate scenes in the boarding house.
Lighting design by Hamish McConchie was excellent as was the sound
design by Peter Barton. The sound
balance was perfect. Clever choreography
by Shasha Chen shone with originality in ‘the Money Song’, which was a genuine
showstopper. Costume designers Miriam
Miley-Read and Christine Pawlicki provided eye-catching costumes for the night
club scenes and correctly in period costumes for the story scenes. Music direction by Rhys Madigan and Jim
McMullen was tight and well-played by the orchestra.
Director,
Jim McMullen, has done an excellent job with this show from concept to
execution. The in-depth characterizations
he has obtained from the cast are particularly notable. Of the several stage productions I’ve seen of
‘Cabaret’ over the years, this one was the most pleasing of all. You’d be a dummkopf to miss it!
Originally broadcast on
Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Dress Circle’ showbiz program with Bill Stephens on Sunday 13
July 2014 from 5pm.
