Berlin. 1939. When broke aspiring American novelist Clifford Bradshaw arrives in town, life and politics are at a turning point. While struggling to get active on the typewriter in his cheap room, he gets swept up into a real and complex tale of the times. A bustling and somewhat seedy cabaret, the Kit Kat Club, a charming but chaotic ‘singer’, a sturdy but ultimately warm hearted landlady and her friendly Jewish fruit selling lover, a few sailors, some working girls, a fun loving pro Nazi smuggler and an omnipresent theatrical Emcee make up the rest of the scene.
Cabaret is of course most famous for its 1972 screen production directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minelli, Michael York and Joel Grey, but also has had many stage adaptations before and since ( it rings up 12 Tony Awards, 8 Academy Awards and 7 BAFTA Awards). Based on semi autobiographic The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood who lived and wrote in Berlin in the 1930s and experienced first hand a dramatic political and social turmoil, it was adapted to the stage by John Van Druten with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
This production at the Hayes theatre is something of an homage to Nancye Hayes who starred as Sally Bowels (the Liza Minelli character) in Australia’s first production in WA in 1971 and the shadowy off stage presence of a dictator’s politics that divides relationships before our eyes feels timely.
The small theatre is appropriately intimate with a few cabaret tables down front and tiered seating for audience to feel close to the action (helped by strong set design by James Browne and a wonderful moody lighting designed by Rob Sowinski).
Director Nicholas Christo, choreographer Kelley Abbey and musical director Lindsay Partridge work as a close team weaving action, dialogue and dance in an upbeat, invigorating pace and shape making the most of the A list cast. Paul Capsis is the delightfully, mischievous and provocative Emcee (we could actually have seen more of him- but one can always see more of Paul!), Chelsea Gibb is Sallly Bowles, and the tight, ensemble cast are all terrific— Marcus Graham, Kate Fitzpatrick, John O’May, Debora Krizak, Jason Kos, Michelle Barr, Nick Jones, Matthew Manahan and Michelle Smitheram.
It was a shame to have been missing some of the classic songs, particularly Mein Herr (I believe the rights are very expensive!) and the first act lagged a little in the middle (15-20 minutes could have been shaved off – though we were also very cold sitting under a pumping air conditioning which was turned down later). The second act made up for it in intrigue, comedy and punch!
Cabaret, produced by David M. Hawkins, plays at the Hayes Theatre until March 5 then has a season at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne from April 27.
Check dates and times here.
