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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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