Glowing Performances and Top Direction Puts Edge in Cabaret

Cabaret is more than a great American Musical.  It has become a musical legend.  It opened on Broadway in 1966 and ran for nearly three years.  A film version was released in 1972 and went on to win eight Academy Awards.  It was revived on Broadway in 1987.  A second Broadway revival in 1998 eclipsed the original run and remained on Broadway for just under six years.  Many theatre historians point to its superior score and magnificent Book and rate it among the best of American Musicals.  The challenge then to any Theatre Company who mounts a production of Cabaret is to preserve the brilliance of the original while still putting their own mark on it.  The Repertory Company Theatre succeeds on both counts in masterful fashion.

The score of Cabaret is by the team of John Kander (Music) and Fred Ebb (Lyrics)—who were also responsible for Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman.  The Book is by Joe Masteroff.  It is based on John Van Druten's play I Am a Camera, which in turn was based on Christopher Isherwood's Berlin Stories.  The plot concerns Cliff Bradshaw, a writer who comes to Berlin just before Hitler's rise to power.  He is able to observe first-hand the degradation of a society due to fear and ignorance.  The seedy cabaret where he goes for entertainment is a metaphor for this destruction.

A pre-requisite for any production of Cabaret is sterling performances from its cast, and the cast at Repertory Company Theatre truly delivers.  As Sally Bowles, the singer at the Cabaret, Michelle Breedlove gives a sharp performance.  She does not play Sally—she becomes Sally.  In the numbers "Don't Tell Mama" and "Mein Herr" she was highly entertaining, but that was just the start of her depiction.  Miss Breedlove handled her scenes with Cliff with childish enthusiasm coupled with a world-weary knowing.  Her rendition of "Maybe This Time" hit just the right wistful note.  Miss Breedlove fused all these elements together with her dramatic, jarring version of the title song, performed just before the end of the musical.  With a pained expression and a catch in her throat, her haggard presence mocked its jaunty lyrics.  Throughout the evening, Miss Breedlove gave her heart and soul into the role, and we were privileged to see Sally Bowles from every dimension.

Another sterling performance was rendered by Wes Bourland as the Emcee of the cabaret.  From the moment Mr. Bourland made his first appearance singing "Wilkommen" and welcoming us to his world, he commanded our attention.  His knowing smile and leering facial expressions entranced us.  Mr. Bourland seemed to be everywhere—when he was not performing on stage, he was playing the cello in the on-stage band!  He used comic timing to perfection in the songs "Two Ladies" and "If You Could See Her" and displayed vocal power in the searing "I Don't Care Much."

Bonnie Bell essayed the role of Freudian Schneider, Cliff's and Sally's landlady.  After a somewhat shaky start in the Brechtian "So What?," Miss Bell revealed fine dramatic and comic ability.  Her singing in "Married" was a gentle delight and she displayed soaring vocal talent in "I Don't Care Much."  As her gentleman friend, Gary Land was a fine foil in the dialogue scenes and in the song "Married."

Debra Carter has done a superior job of directing Cabaret.  We are not watching Cabaret—we are in the cabaret.  This was accomplished by the immediacy of the stage to the audience.  The first row of the audience sat on cabaret tables right on stage.  To encourage this effect, the performers often made their entrances and exits through the audience.  Miss Carter has directed the musical for maximum dramatic value as well.  The direction was extremely taught—the action moved rapidly from the illusory opening to the breathless conclusion.

Jeff Crouse and his other on-stage musicians were in excellent form—they had just the right piercing note for a seedy cabaret.  Michelle Burdeaux's lighting was outstanding—both in the cabaret numbers and dramatic scenes.  Brittany Levraea's choreography evoked the bawdiness of the cabaret nicely.

The Repertory Company Theatre's production of Cabaret is a must-see.  A brilliant work enlivened up by stellar performances and masterful direction make for a thoroughly satisfying evening.

Cabaret will run through November 3.  For more information, please visit the Repertory Company Theatre website.

 

 

Photo Credit:  Debra Carter 

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