by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Players by the Sea opened its 42nd season with the Tony award-winning musical Cabaret. It will run until September 29th and tickets are already going fast, so reserve today.
Most readers already know that this story is set in the decaying and decadent l930s Berlin as Germany moves toward Nazi rule and World War II. The plot centers on the occupants of an inexpensive rooming house and a steamy nightclub.
Hosted by the mesmerizing and puckish emcee (Josh Waller) who sings the show’s opening ‘Wilkommen,’ the tone is set for our provocative trip. Waller’s host provides sexually suggestive hints about the very diverse personalities that frequent the Kit Kat Club. Chalk up another award-winning performance by Waller, who, as an actor, disappears so far into his characters you’d swear his DNA had been altered!
Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, comes into the club and meets the British singer, Sally Bowles, a lusty, freewheeling beauty with a cloudy past. Bradshaw, despite his acknowledged interest in men, falls in love with Sally and wants to be the father of the unborn child she carries.
Newcomer, Kristopher Copeland is good as Cliff. His voice is not overpowering, instead it is pleasant and just right for his character. He is very believable in this role.
Tracy Olin is perfectly marvelous as Sally Bowles. She has great looks, stage presence and can she belt out a song (lots of them). She is among the best I have ever seen in this role. She alone is worth the price of admission!
A second plot is the touching courtship and moving performances of the late-life lovers, Fraulein Schneider (Robyn Neal) and Herr Schultz (Redgie Gutshall). Though heart-warming, it is a romance not-to-be as the disillusioned landlord and the Jewish Fruit merchant face the new persecution of the Jews at their engagement party.
There are many strong performances in this show. Aaron Marshall as the rooming house’s resident lady of the night, Kost, has funny moments with her sailor customers. Later Ms. Marshall sings in German, the anthem of the master race, ‘Tomorrow Belongs to Me’ and you could feel the hearts of the audience almost stop, it was bone-chilling. Gentlemen, whatever your taste in women, you are bound to find it in the gorgeous Kit Kat Girls played by Madeline Hionides, Maya Adkins, Morgan Williams, Jessica Bitter, Renee Freeman and Miranda Lawson. They sing, they dance, they tease, they are wonderful. For those who may butter your bread on the other side, Kit Kat Boys, Sam Willis and Dax Dyer will be sure to please.
Paul Rowe, as Ernst the Nazi organizer, is frightening as he worms his way into Cliff’s life with the lure of cash for smuggling money from Paris. Bill White is picture perfect as Max, the Kit Kat Club owner and Sally’s occasional lover. Luke Hooper, Julian Goldhagen and Kevin Jaeger all appear in multiple roles as sailors and bodyguards. Mr. Goldhagen is also the very graceful dancing gorilla.
Lee Hamby designed the costumes, in addition to being assistant director of the show. The clothing is authentic to the period and very imaginative. Ms. Olin has many costume changes and is a fashion show unto herself. Thanks to the financial support of The Community Foundation’s Tom Nehl Fund for making this important aspect of the show possible.
Holly Deckerhoff-Manuel’s choreography was exciting and inventive. Having a lot of stage area to work with due to the set design helped. The set was designed by Director Joseph Schwarz, who also designed the evocative lighting. It is a very unique set, and the design allowed this show to be fast-paced and run only 2 hours and l5 minutes, with intermission. Why? There is almost no furniture to move. Cliff’s small bedroom and Schneider’s rooming house foyer are both on the right side on raised platforms.
The Kit Kat Club uses ¾ of the stage. Even the excellent five-piece orchestra, lead by Musical Director Ellen Milligan, is incorporated as part of the show on stage. One bench was moved for the short train scene and that is it. Technical Director David Paul added some train sound effects to make this realistic. Changing from scene to scene was just a question of turning on and off lights, and how long does that take? Players’ stage is on the ground floor, making the audience feel that they are truly in a night club. The only thing missing was cigarette smoke, as Germans are and have always been heavy smokers. (But thanks, Joe, we did not really miss it.)
Cabaret has a highly compelling storyline with a message from history that we must never forget. It is a musical with memorable songs from the pens of John Kander and Fred Ebb. Cabaret, as the season opener for Players, is setting a high standard for quality. Try this show, and if you like it, Players will apply your ticket price to a full season of theatre at their playhouse, which is located at 106 Sixth Street, Jacksonville Beach. Visit playersbythesea.org for more information. Don’t miss Cabaret, it is outstanding in every way.
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