From the moment the curtain rises on Broadway By The Bay’s production of “Cabaret,” the momentum builds throughout the very long first act, and holds attention. It moves like a revved up steamroller and director Brandon Jackson keeps up the breathtaking pace so the audience does not dare look away for fear they will miss something.
“Cabaret” – taken from Christopher Isherwwod’s “Berlin Stories” – tells the tale of life in excessive, oblivious Berlin at a time when the world was standing on the precipice of oblivion (1929).
Amie Shapiro as the brassy Sally Bowles becomes the driven, free-spirited, diva-gamin with a vengeance. Her phrasing of “Cabaret” and “Maybe This Time” is impeccable and has never been delivered better.
Alex Rodriguez is the insidious, leering, tacky master of ceremonies of the sleazy Kit Kat Club who guides us through the plot and subplots. His creepy, amoral characterization almost becomes uncomfortable at times until you realize he is a sign of times that are about to come to a crashing end.
Jack Mosbacher as Cliff Bradshaw, Sally’s patient boyfriend, has velvet-like, beautiful delivery with a sweet innocence and sensitivity.
The most special moments come from a seasoned Karen DeHart as the widowed landlady, Fraulein Schneider, and a sympathetic, gentle Stuart Miller as the Jewish fruit merchant, Herr Schultz. Their doomed, sweet love affair is tender and poignant.
The glitz of Margret Toomey’s costumes is spectacular. Creative sets – also by Toomey – lighting by Michael Rooney and great sound by Jay Hayward make for a super production. Kristin Kusanovich’s impressive choreography is right on mark with a talented, energetic chorus.
The Kit Kat Club’s orchestra, under the direction of Sean Kana, makes great sounds and carries the production solidly.
The more mature audience realize the ramifications of the plot that most of the younger folk (30 on down) didn’t seem to have a clue about. It’s amazing how horrendous history that touched millions can be forgotten, but Elvis still lives. Perhaps it is time to reevaluate.
This “Cabaret” is a blockbuster musical, well worth the trip over the hill. The audience left the theatre understanding that what happened at the time changed the world forever and we must never forget.
