Theater review: Cabaret

                            Emcee and Dancers

There’s no use just sitting alone in your room when you could be at The Old Globe’s phenomenal presentation of “Cabaret,” playing through Oct. 8 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage.

This storied musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb has been modified many times. This version is an import from Asolo Repertory Theatre in  Sarasota, Florida, the largest Equity theater in the Southeastern United States.

Set in the Berlin of 1931, during the twilight of the Jazz Age, “Cabaret” takes place in a seedy bar known as the Kit Kat Klub, which features nearly-naked (or fabulously dressed) female dancers, male dancers who may or may not be gay, and a boffo orchestra up above the stage to play the accompaniment for the songs and the terrific dances created by director/choreographer Josh Rhodes.

The wonderfully versatile Emcee (Lincoln Clauss) opens and presides over the proceedings, first welcoming the audience with “Wilkommen” and later commenting on much of the action.

The plot brings American writer Cliff Bradshaw (Alan Chandler) to Berlin to work on a new novel. He finds a room at Fräulein Schneider’s (Kelly Lester) rooming house, and though he can only afford half her asking price, she takes him in.

Here he will meet (and take a liking to) young dancer Sally Bowles (Joanna A. Jones), and romance may blossom. A performer whose lovely and expressive voice won me over immediately, her rendition of the poignant song “Maybe This Time” almost made me weep.

Needing money, Cliff will agree (for a price) to travel and bring back items from outside Berlin to smuggler Ernst Ludwig (Alex Gibson), because as a foreigner he can travel more easily than natives.

Fräulein Schneider meets Jewish fruit vendor Herr Schultz (Bruce Sabath) and they strike up a friendship over a pineapple that may result in marriage.

Fräulein Kost (Abby Church) is a prostitute who takes a room in Fräulein Schneider’s boarding house. Fräulein Schneider doesn’t like this, but she needs the money as much as Fräulein Kost.

Mainly, this show is about late Weimar Germany, that time just before the Nazis take over, when people do what they must to survive and try to enjoy life as much as possible.

There isn’t a single weak link in this fabulous cast, nor in the excellent nine-member orchestra. Kudos also go to set designer Tijana Bjelajac, costume designer Alejo Vietti, lighting designers Cory Pattak and Paul Vaillancourt, sound designer Haley Parcher, hair, wig and makeup designer Michelle Hart and fight director Rachel Flesher.

And huge congratulations to Josh Rhodes, director and choreographer, who manages to make the audience feel almost part of the action.

This show is not short (it runs about 2-1/2 hours), but trust me, the show is so good that time will fly. Don’t miss this show.

                                          The Emcee

The details

“Cabaret” plays through October 8, 2023 on The Old Globe’s Donald & Darlene Shiley Stage, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Shows Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets: (619) 234-5623 or www.TheOldGlobe.org