It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It was a seedy nightclub called the Kit Kat Club in 1931 Berlin. Here the lives of two native English speakers, Sally Bowles (Lisa O’Hare) and Cliff Bradshaw (Jeff McLean) entwine. Here too they, along with their friends, experience love, joy, and a defeating sense of fatality. This is the world of Cabaret (Kander/Ebb) that REPRISE introduced to this first-time watcher.
As the show opens, Cliff meets Ernst Ludwig, played by the delightful Zach Bandler. Immediately charming and affable, Bandler’s portrayal of Ernst easily wins Cliff’s friendship and offers assistance with work, lodging and entertainment. The two (temporarily) part ways as Cliff goes to get settled in his new lodgings.
It is in this boardinghouse that we meet most of the rest of the cast: the proprietress, Fräulein Schneider (Mary Gordon Murray), and her boarders Herr Schultz (Robert Picardo) and Fräulein Kost (Katrina Lenk). Murray’s invigorating performance of “So What” thrilled the audience with her frank honesty. Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schulz's budding romance blooms during the show with shining performances from both Murray and Picardo. There was certainly nothing sub-par about this sub-plot.
Later at the Kit Kat Club, we finally met Sally Bowles. While Jeff McLean competently matched Lisa O’Hare vocally throughout the show (including “Perfectly Marvelous”), O’Hare easily steals the show. Her performance as carefree Sally was effortlessly effervescent and reminiscent of a young, unrestrained Julie Andrews. While some might be disappointed “Mein Herr” is not performed, the title number “Cabaret” was the single most emotionally powerful number in the show.
Ultimately, it proves to be the worst of times as Ernst Ludwig’s political alignments are revealed. Here, Bandler’s performance demonstrates all too well how easily bigotry can hide among our friends and neighbors as his character’s beliefs destroy many of the relationships that were built. While its opening night failed to take me as far into the dark grittiness of this reality as I was hoping (in part due to a disconnect between the audience and the Emcee-played by Bryce Ryness), the raw talent (and gorgeous costumes by Kate Bergh) was enough to make this an enjoyable experience for a first-time viewer.
~Jason Rasmussen~
Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Directed and Choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge
Cabaret runs through September 25, 2011 at The Freud Playhouse Box Office: 310 285 2101
www.Reprise.org
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