Review: CABARET Mesmerizes at Fox Cities P.A.C.

Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET opened at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on February 28 and will continue to run through March 5. CABARET is a stunning, stirring production that is simultaneously timeless and timely.

Many theatergoers will already be familiar with the Kander and Ebb classic. An American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, arrives in Berlin in late 1929 to look for inspiration. Along the way, he befriends a mysterious man named Ernst Ludwig who encourages him to stay at a second-rate boardinghouse run by aging widow Fräulein Schneider. When Cliff visits a seedy cabaret called "the Kit Kat Klub," he meets Sally Bowles, a perky but troubled performer. Cliff and Sally embark on a romance, while Fräulein Schneider finds romance with kind fruit vendor Herr Schultz. The Emcee acts as the master of ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub while also guiding the audience through the story. As the Nazi Party rises in influence, the line between friend and foe blurs, romances are doomed and lives spiral out of control. The juxtaposition of the overt sexuality of the Kit Kat Klub paired with the harsh reality of Nazi beliefs adds to the intensity of the plot.

It is impossible to separate the show CABARET from its strong social commentary, which is as relevant as ever. In CABARET, the meaning of "us" is narrowed. Everyone who does not fit the strict definition is lumped in with "them," who are then blamed for society's problems. Meanwhile, characters like Herr Schultz, a German Jew, remain confident that things will turn back around.

Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET is sort of a revival of a revival of a revival. This production stems from the 2014 Broadway revival by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall, which revived the 1998 Broadway revival, which was based on the 1993 London revival. With so many reincarnations, it is easy to assume that the show will feel stale. However, CABARET still feels fresh and dynamic.

CABARET is a powerful show with enthralling intensity. It spirals from frenetic debauchery to frantic desperation, while being simultaneously entertaining and unsettling.

All aspects of Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET are strong and lend to its power.

The staging is relatively simple but used to great effect. The band is on a platform with stairs leading down to the stage. It looks like you might expect a cabaret to look, but it also transitions seamlessly to other settings like a train and boardinghouse. Having the band on stage also really adds to the overall atmosphere.

The choreography is entertaining and adds to the shows intensity. Backup dancers writhe, stomp and gyrate. They often look apathetic and/or angry, which helps set the scene of the seedy club.

The entire cast is truly superb. The show requires a lot from them - many performers must also play instruments in addition to singing, dancing and acting. However, each performer gives a masterful performance.

As the Emcee, Jon Peterson is captivating. The character begins the show bawdy and comedic but turns tragic by the end. Jon Peterson seamlessly transitions between these two extremes, leading the audience on an emotional journey.

Leigh Ann Larkin plays a very sympathetic Sally Bowles. Her emotive face and charm make it easy to root for the character in spite of the character's personal issues. Her performance of the song "Cabaret" was particularly stunning in its intensity.

Benjamin Eakeley is charismatic and relatable as Cliff. Perhaps the only disappointment in the show is that the role of Cliff does not call for more singing since Eakeley's voice is phenomenal.

Alison Ewing as Fräulein Kost and Patrick Vaill as Ernst Ludwig give nuanced performances that simultaneously show the inherent problems with Nazi ideology without treating Nazis and Nazi sympathizers as one-dimensional villains.

Mary Gordon Murray as Fräulein Schneider and Scott Robertson as Herr Schultz add a lot of heart to the show. They each have strong, beautiful voices and portray their characters with such tenderness that audiences have no choice but to sympathize with them.

All in all, Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET is so spellbinding that audiences may forget to blink.

Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET will continue to play at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center through March 5. Tickets are still available.

Photo Credit: Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET; Leigh Ann Larkin as Sally Bowles and the 2017 National Touring cast of Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET. Photo by Joan Marcus.