Review: 'Cabaret' at UC Follies

Proving that there is no single "correct" way to interpret classic plays and musicals, UC Follies – a student theatrical company at University of Toronto – have come up with a Cabaret that puts the focus on the character of Clifford Bradshaw. Not on Sally Bowls or Fraulein Schneider or even the Master of Ceremonies.  

Bradshaw is Joe Masteroff's stand-in for Christopher Isherwood whose Berlin stories became the play I Am A Camera, which served as the inspiration for the 1966 musical. As a novelist he is there to record his images of Berlin in 1930. In most productions the events happen around Cliff, but thanks to a finely detailed performance by Thomas Davis and some subtle directorial touches by Stephen Low, this production places Cliff very much at the centre of the action.

Clair Rice is a fine Sally Bowls, singing well enough for a musical but not so well as to indicate her character will ever achieve the kind of stardom she desires. Meredith Shaw brings a touching, worn quality to Fraulein Schneider, and Neil Silcox is a charming Schultz.  There is terrific support from Meira Gold as Fraulien Kost, and J.P. Bevilacqua as the Nazi supporting Herr Ludwig.

Overseeing all of this is the androgynous master of ceremonies played by Geoff Stevens. He doesn't focus on the outrageous humour of the character, instead playing the role as a sad clown. His rendition of "I Don't Care Much" brought this point home.

Director Low, working with his design team, has come up with a simple yet effective staging that keeps the show moving at a brisk pace. Some of the songs were taken at almost too brisk tempos by music director Lily Ling. Although it added to that time-is-running-out feeling, it did at times seem rushed.

A few other areas of concern: A makeshift curtain, drawn to represent the stage of the Kit Kat Klub failed to work properly and was not really necessary. Nor was it necessary to add a reprise of  "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" at the very end of the show, and in a rather curious move, the performers are not given a curtain call. A shame because many of them earned their bows.

Quibbles aside, this is a fine and imaginative production of the classic musical with virtually the entire cast and production team in top form.

CABARET is presented by UC Follies at University of Toronto's Hart House Theatre. Performances continue February 13 to 16 at 8 PM.  For tickets visit www.ucfollies.com  or call the box office at (416) 978-8849.

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