The Nazis are coming to power, the Jazz Age is ending, and one lone writer sets out to make his mark. “Cabaret” takes a look at this landmark time with story and song.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

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The Story of “Cabaret”

The time is 1929, the place is Berlin, Germany, the setting is the Kit Kat Club, and the feeling is very bohemian.

Cliff is an aspiring American writer who believes traveling abroad will give him the inspiration for the novel he is writing. The bohemian atmosphere seems to be a bit distracting for his productivity. There are opportunities for physical distraction that bring his writing to a halt. His limited budget requires him to find the most inexpensive place in all of Berlin, but this also comes with an interesting set of neighbors.

He does find solace at the Kit Kat Club as well as opportunity, but the opportunity brings its own set of challenges, challenges he may not wish for.

This is a time in Germany’s history when the Nazi Party was gaining power, and with that power, there was narrow vision and forced conformity. This did not make the bohemian atmosphere very fun; in fact, it brought its own set of dangers.

This is how Cabaret starts, and during the play, we learn more about each character, and all of the adventures are punctuated by song and dance, with the Kit Kat Club as the backdrop.

If you haven’t seen Cabaret, either in movie form or perhaps on stage live, you have missed out on quite an important story and quite an entertaining musical. They say those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it, and Cabaret does give quite the history lesson.

Cabaret premiered on Broadway in 1966 and was made into a movie in 1972, directed by Bob Fosse. The music took on a life of its own, even beyond the story centering around the Kit Kat Club. Cabaret is based on the 1951 play “I Am a Camera” by John Van Druten and Christopher Isherwood’s The Berlin Stories.

Performed many times in many places, Cabaret has become a staple for theatres of all sizes. But for any theatre, putting on this production is indeed a challenge. And this is a challenge that Bruka Theatre has accepted and indeed found success, as the entire run was sold out even before opening night.

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Here are some Photos to give you a taste of “Cabaret.”

But I have to say that my photos cannot convey the energy and excitement of Cabaret.

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What about the Performances?

The Emcee, played by Henry James, is an ever-present, almost voyeuristic character who helps to lead the audience through this emotional and conflicted story.  James plays the role brilliantly with just the right amount of creepiness mixed with incredible athleticism.

The couple who are having a burgeoning romance, Sally Bowles and Cliff, played by Melody Ricketts and Benit Hensley, respectively, are marvelous together. Sally Bowles’ conflict with her feelings for Cliff is palatable, and Cliff’s frustration at Sally Bowles’ reluctance to change her lifestyle is heartbreaking. These two are wonderful on stage together and bring the cement that binds the story together. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Melody Ricketts singing; oh my, she is so good!

Ernst, played by Andy Luna, is the powerful character with secrets. Luna is great bringing this character to life, showing the arrogance and narrow-mindedness of a man on a mission for the benefit of others. Luna is one of the most powerful actors I have seen on stage with a range that has amazed me.

Fraulein Kost, played by Western Spann, is one of the renters in the boarding house that Cliff is staying at while he is in Berlin. Kost takes care of her business with the American sailors, much to the chagrin of the landlord, Fraulein Schneider. Spann brings her character to life with the energy of a woman doing what she must but at the same time enjoying it very much.

Fraulein Schneider, played by Natalie Laster Jones, is the landlord for the boarding house where many of the characters live. Her love interest, Herr Schultz, played by Ralph Ohlsen, also lives in the building. Schultz owns and runs a fruit stand. These two have energy for each other and make it very clear that they would love to explore their relationship. Unfortunately, a future together is not in the cards for them. Jones and Ohlsen have magical energy together on stage, and I, for one, rooted for their characters even though it was clear they had no future together. These two play off of each other very well and bring a much-needed dynamic to the play.

We must not forget the character of Max, played by Jessey Richards. Max is a fixture in the Kit Kat club as he is the owner. He usually sits in the corner looking very dapper in his hat and suit. Jesse Richards is perfect for this role and has a grin reminiscent of someone who has secrets but is extremely happy about them.

There are also the Kit Kat Girls and the Kit Kat Boys who provide dancing entertainment in the Kit Kat Club. The dancing is high-energy, sexy, and delightfully entertaining. The choreography and subtle emotions in the dancers come across perfectly for the audience, and each of these actors should be very proud of their part in Cabaret.

We must not forget about the Kit Kat band. They provide more than just the music. Bill Quinby is highly entertaining himself. It is always something special when there is live music accompanying a musical, and this band sounded oh so good.

There are many others whose energies come together, aiding in the performance that the audience sees on stage. From the Director to the Stage Manager and everyone in between, it is evident that this group of highly talented and motivated individuals came together to create a very powerful and poignant production of Cabaret.

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The Set

The set is simple but very effective, and Bruka Theatre’s choice of setting the seats up in a thrust configuration works wonderfully, giving the audience and the actors more chances to interact with each other. As you can see in the photos, this configuration makes for a very engaging stage and audience interaction. I also have to give a shout-out to Dave Simpson for his wonderful lighting. His lighting always adds drama to the already dramatic.

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The Bottom Line

Cabaret is a very powerful musical with a deeper message that seems to mirror in ways our current social environment. But more than that, it is highly entertaining and a challenge for the actors on stage and the crew behind the stage, bringing all of the elements together. Bruka Theatre has done an incredible job and, together as a team, brings incredible theatre to their audiences.

I would say do whatever you can to see Cabaret at Bruka Theatre, but the show was sold out even before opening night. There is still hope, though; you can go to the theatre and put your name in, in case one of the ticket holders does not show up, and there is a chance that they will add some performances, so keep your eye out for that announcement.

Be aware that Cabaret touches on subjects of racism, alcohol and drug use, sexual situations, and violence.

And that’s the bottom line.

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Cabaret

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