Review: Home Grown Theatre Company Falls Flat With CABARET

The Home Grown Theatre Company production of Cabaret currently runs at the Kit Kat Club located above Morningside Antiques in the Westport entertainment district. John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote the music, lyrics, and Joe Masteroff the book. The musical is based on the book I Am a Camera by Christopher Isherwood.

Cabaret won eight Tony Awards in 1967 including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Choreography. Set in Belin in 1931 the story follows an American, Clifford Bradshaw who is searching for a place to write the great American novel that he has had so much trouble starting. The Master of Ceremonies a gay Jewish entertainer at the rise of the Nazi party tells the story. Clifford goes to the seedy Kit Kat Club where he meets and falls in love with the featured entertainer, Sally Bowles. Songs such as "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," "Money," and the title song "Cabaret" work as catapults to further the story.

The second floor of the antique store has been transformed into a cabaret style nightclub, serving drinks from the bar and small plates to patrons. The décor of the club sets the mood for the audience, for a show that unfortunately falls short of expectations. Hersh D. Ellis directs and provided scenic design for the production in the small intimate space. The wonderfully designed choreography by Caroline Fiss delighted the audience.

Generally, technical difficulties are not mentioned in my reviews, but this production opened on Saturday July 25, three days before I attended. Too many technical difficulties make the production tedious and tiresome to sit through. A microphone or light not working can be overlooked but in this production of Cabaret, there is constant noise from backstage; doors creaking open, items dropped backstage (apparently large ones from the sound it made) and poor lighting design unable to follow or completely illuminate the performers.

The band plays so loud that weaker performers such as Emmy Hadley as Sally Bowles, Betsy Wendorff as Fraulein Kost, and Madelaine Heigle as Fraulein Schneider can barely be heard during portions of their solos. Bowles is especially weak and sang most of the numbers very dead pan. If you did not know Cabaret, you would be lost in what the song was saying.

Kristoph Gies stole the show as the Emcee. He has a wonderful voice and his body language and facial expressions were fabulous. Corey Allen stars as Clifford Bradshaw and provides the other sparkle to an otherwise bleak production.

Cabaret continues at the Kit Kat Club through August 8. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Photo by Gracie Williams courtesy of Home Grown Theatre Company.

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