CABARET

Vintage Theatre Company: 

September 15 0ctober 22

Mary Campbell and Brian Trampler (photo credit RDG Photography)

 

     Not the CABARET de papa, director Bernie Cardell pulls the artist card here and delivers a truly New and Powerful Production of this old warhorse.

     In Cardell’s vision CABARET is a nightmare which begins with youthful amoral and socio-political apathy and ends with the unspeakable horrors of the Third Reich, after an oncoming and constantly burgeoning, danse macabre. Three-time Marlowe Award winner Adrianne Hampton has created another triumph with her choreography.

      Marlowe Award winner Tanner Kelly does a sensational job as music director for this production. Mary Dailey plays keys while conducting the Vintage Theatre stage band.

     As the Kit Kat Klub’s emcee ushers us into the dark underbelly of Berlin’s seedy night life, the rising Nazi party is beginning to show its antisemitic teeth. 

     eden gives us a tour de force in the role of the emcee. A dynamic whirlwind of leering bigotry and grinning falsehood, their performance is stunning!

Besides the superb take on “Wilkommen,” their version of “I Don’t Care Much” is the quintessential statement on apathy at the time of socio-political crisis.

     Aynsley Upton stepped in at the last minute to lead the cast as Sally Bowles on the night this reviewer was in attendance. Her performance in the central role was awe-inspiring to say the least. Her singing of the title song and “Maybe This Time,” were masterful indeed! This is that enviable moment when, just as in “42^nd Street,” the understudy must step in to replace an ailing lead and becomes a Star. Brava!

      Mary Campbell gives a formidable performance in the role of Fraulein Schneider. Her vocals are filled with emotional angst and her eyes with real terror. Ms. Campbell needs to be seen much more often upon the Denver stage.

     Samantha Barrasso ‘s Fraulein Kost is of special note. The very fine performance of this sight-impaired actor gave a new slant on our vision of the common folk of Germany who were being slowly shepherded into the flock of the Nazi party. (Slipping and falling, after a small misstep, one was heartened that she was not hurt. She carried on with true professional aplomb as though nothing had occurred.) 

      Brian Trampler is a memorable Herr Schultz. His singing of “It Couldn’t Please Me More” charms.

     The makeup on the leering faces of the Kit Kat Klub dancers is garish.  The lighting reminds of the expressionistic paintings of the day.  There is a hideous quality of the proceedings that perfectly matches the political sentiments of the day and the subsequent heinous treatment of Jewish people, homosexuals and all non-conformists. 

This is not the Cabaret de papa!  

Run to get tickets!  

 

Call the box office at 303-856-7830 or go online at Vintagetheatre.org