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Cabaret
Presented by:
Dandenong Theatre Company
Venue:
The Castle
Reviewer:
Anne Dewar
Date
Reviewed: Saturday 9th May 2009
“Cabaret”…you
automatically think Liza Minelli, Joel Grey….. Hollywood version!
Yeah?
But I have never really
seen Cabaret staged the way it is meant to be staged until now and
the Director Kym Davies gave it fresh direction and an unusual
approach.
She achieved in my opinion
the correct feel that this show is meant to have.
Cabaret is sometimes a
difficult show but Dandenong Theatre Company’s production was
different and well done.
Upon walking into the
Castle I was greeted by a lovely Fraulein who seated me at a table.
Several over the top, bizarre cabaret characters were mingling with
the Audience and it set up a great atmosphere straight away.
The Décor was very
reminiscent of Moulin Rouge, in fact the whole show had that seedy,
way out, Moulin Rouge sometimes even Rocky Horror feel to it which I
liked!
The Castle was the perfect
venue for this show and I particularly thought the extra detail with
the old Furniture strategically placed and set to the side of the
main audience area, the café type seating and fairy lights above
were fabulous touches. I am big on detail and carrying themes
through and it was terrific to see the continuity and creativeness
which was carried through the entire production.
The show opens with the
arrival of a young American, Cliff Bradshaw in Berlin on New Year's
Eve 1930 during the rise of Nazi Germany. In the Train he is
befriended by the charming and likable Ernst who tells Cliff about
Fraulein Schneider's lodging house where promiscuity is rife. At the
'Kit Kat Klub', a cabaret place where almost anything goes he meets
Sally Bowles a singer whom one gets the impression is into anything
and everything to escape reality. Sally soon moves in with Cliff and
so the story evolves.
The Emcee at the 'Kit Kat
Klub' played by Michael Laity singing “Wilkommen” was terrific ! I
was really impressed with him, he captured perfectly the air of
mystique and intrique and the bizarre personality needed to portray
this role. He sang well and was consistent with his accent and very,
very believable. In my opinion an award winning performance Michael.
“Don’t
tell Mama” was a bouncy little number sung with great confidence by
Erin Gill as Sally Bowles and the girls all looking genuinely sleezy
in torn tights, fish nets and not much else!
Erin’s portrayal of Sally
was very natural and her English accent was superb. She sang well
although I would like to have heard a bit more light and shade in
the song “Cabaret”, it was just a bit too angry - shouty all the way
through for my liking. I know it is sung at a point in the show
where she has just broken up with Cliff but I felt Erin could have
showcased her voice and sold the song better if she had started off
determined and then at some point mellowed back and really sang it
rather than shouted it. It would have had more effect and impact on
the audience being the title song that everyone waits for but she
still did a great job of the role.
Colin Morley as Cliff was
likable, charming, sang nicely and played the sometimes very
confused by Sally’s antics American lover very well indeed, again
another very believable characterization.
Ernst was played by Matt
Caton in a credible performance with warmth, sincerity and
intelligence.
Fraulien Schnieder played
by Christine James had a good voice and great comic timing she
paired well with Bill Papastergiou as a very laid back Herr Schultz.
The promiscuous Frauline
Kost was portrayed by Melanie Foster and her interpretation of the
part was probably one of the best I have seen and one of the best
performances of the evening! Melanie’s accent was spot on and she
was very convincing. I have seen Melanie in other roles and she is
always great to watch, I really enjoyed her performance.
The Kit Kat boys and girls
were all wonderful individual Characters and I liked the way they
kept that throughout the ensemble numbers. A special highlight being
character actress Clare Andrews as a Brunhilda type complete with
horns…hilarious!
The set consisted of the
main stage draped with old style curtain and clever side flats that
were moved for different scenes and also a central Platform and two
side scenes on rostrums. The train seat on one side also doubled as
seating in the Kit Kat Club and the bedroom scene was on the other
side. In between were tables and chairs that the cast sat at. It all
looked very good, yet simple and effective and was nicely
complemented by the lighting as well.
One gripe though is that
the traipsing up and down the stairs to the two side scenes was very
distracting and noisy and am wondering if it would not have been
better to join the rostrums to the centre platform with catwalks
rather than using stairs? Space may have been an issue with that
though.
The Kit Kat band were
playing onstage with Kurt Abell at the helm and were dressed up to
fit in with the rest of the cast which is traditional for this show
and they all looked fabulous!
Kurt is to be
congratulated on the band as the sound they achieved really suited
the show and also for his obvious work on all the cast vocally…. not
one dropped their accents while singing. Well done Kurt!
Choreography by Gulcan
Gulen was very stylized to suit the show, very balanced and was
wonderfully presented by the cast.
Dandenong Theatre Company
should be proud of Cabaret and also Kym, Kurt and Gulcan for
presenting Cabaret in the manner they have. They all just ‘got it’
and I think anyone with a bit of creativity will appreciate what
they have achieved.
Do yourself a favour and
get yourself along to the Castle… It was a great night out, very
enjoyable and different and for me the way “Cabaret” should be done!
Cabaret opens again on
Thursday 14th
and runs through to Saturday May 23rd
Bookings
Call:
9771 6666 or
Please check What’s On for
more details.
Anne Dewar is well
known in Musical Theatre circles; and has over 30 years experience
in both professional and non – professional Theatre, Pantomime and
Television appearing in commercials and mini series and on Rove Live
in Comedy Sketches. Anne has played many roles in Musical Theatre.
Her favourites include Dolly Levi in “Hello Dolly” and Miss Adelaide
in “Guys and Dolls” receiving a Music Theatre Guild nomination for
best actress. She has worked with many theatre groups including
Whitehorse, CLOC, Dandenong, Festival Theatre, Nova, Phoenix and
Eastern Musical Theatre. Anne has also designed sets for many shows
and directed and choreographed productions at the Karrilyka Theatre,
the latest being the successful Australasian Premiere of the comedy
play M*A*S*H in 2008. Anne recently played the role of Vicki Nichols
in Phoenix Theatre Co’s “The Full Monty”, receiving a Lyrebird
Nomination for her efforts. She is looking forward to her next
project which is directing the “Kids on Broadway” concert for
Phoenix in May this year.
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