Divinely decadent
Just back from Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre after a nightmare journey – the Overground cancelled 5 hours before it had previously announced it was to be stopped.
Everyone now probably knows that the theatre has transformed itself into the Kit Kat club – with seats on the old stage and a circular stage in the round. Bars with louche performers, tables and food and drink served to the wealthy, with the poor peasants (us) looking on from the dress and upper circle. The champagne (we didn’t buy it) was £85 a bottle and a programme £15.00. So a little bit of Weimar inflation to add to the reality of the mise-en-scene.
This was a good production, and even with the original stars now replaced excellently performed.
Don’t expect the film’s narrative arc – it stays much closer to the Broadway original (other than making Cliff more obviously and initially bi) – but do expect the Kit Kat club to be suitably tawdry.
There is always a problem with Sally Bowles – the script (and the original) requires her to be a poor performer – the songs (and the show) require her (Amy Lennox for us) to be outstanding. She was, managing both to sing and to act with bravura.
Fra Fee as the Emcee was a good singer but perhaps too muscled for a part which is often played quite fay, although in ‘Money’ looking like a clawed cockroach he was dominating and quite scary.
Overall this is a show which deserves its critical accolades – even without Redmayne and Jessie Buckley it works a treat.