"Cabaret" - Runaway Stage Productions

Left: Amber Jean Moore Lazard as Sally Bowles.


Excellent production of the 1987 revival of "Cabaret".

Simple, efficient set design, apparently by Joshua James. Excellent, energetic choreography by Darryl Strohl (something of a reunion cast of last year's choreography-Elly-Award-winning "Chicago"). Well-balanced, full orchestral sound, as guided by Jesse Valerio. Beautiful costumes by Lillian Baxter.

Left: Bows. Joshua James (Master of Ceremonies) leads a final bow. Featured near the center, left to right, are Amber Jean Moore Lazard (Sally Bowles), Jessica Larrick (Fraulein Kost), Mary Young (Fraulein Schneider), Tevye Ditter (Clifford Bradshaw), and Patrick Coughenaur (Ernst Ludwig).







There are a few problems with the production. 'Tomorrow Belongs To Me' in the original version of "Cabaret" has a tremendous emotional punch because it evolves successively as an alien but beautiful intrusion (sung by outsiders), and then at once chillingly-evil as the Nazi wellspring is abruptly revealed by the emcee. Here, the song is sung by insiders (Kit Kat Klub waiters), slowly revealed with a stiff-arm salute by the waiters as Nazi-derived, and then subverted at the end by the emcee's mockery. The original approach is better. In addition, the social dancing in the party scene goes on for too long, and the lighting is rather dark (in the sense that it is sometimes hard to see what is going on).

Nevertheless, the strengths of this cast overawe any difficulties. Joshua James is stupendously good as the Emcee: full of boundless, wicked energy. Amber Jean Moore Lazard is glamorous, feckless, and beautiful as Sally Bowles. Tevye Ditter is earnest and tortured as Clifford Bradshaw (even though Tevye is featured in the added song 'Don't Go', his singing opportunities are somewhat restricted by the script).

The supporting cast has many good opportunities to shine. Mary Young was wonderful as Frau Schneider and Nicolas Maggio was warm and engaging as Herr Schultz. Kyle Young played a naughty Bobby.

The Kit Kat Klub dancers were all quite striking, and quite strong: Kacey Kamrin and Kay Hight as the Two Ladies; plus Sarah Waldo-Riley, Marissa Tidrick, Natalie Fong, and Kris Farhood.

The dancer who impressed me the most with her stage presence was Natalie Fong. Flirting with Scott Griffith in the corner during the party scene, she managed to hold my focus even though she was off in the corner of the stage, and farthest from the action.

This is the final weekend for the show - just two performances left! See it while you can!