Reviews: Cabaret (1998 Version) at Lake Braddock Secondary School
Written by Griffin Harris of Langley High School
Voices whisper "Welcome to Berlin" amongst the dazzling lights of the Kit Kat Club, despite the danger brewing just beyond the door. Can Berlin truly leave its troubles outside? Lake Braddock Secondary School addresses this question as it presents Cabaret.
Cabaret was masterfully crafted by Joe Masteroff, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb in 1966. The script then underwent many revisions after the release of the 1972 film adaptation. These changes and more are now implemented in the licensable "1998 edition," which remains the standard performed version today.
Set in 1930s Berlin, Cabaret follows the rise of Nazism as American author Clifford Bradshaw explores his affair with the eccentric Sally Bowles, a performer at the "Kit Kat Club". While the club's carefree performances contrast with the German political climate, Cabaret explores how denial and distraction only lead to disaster.
As the Emcee of the night, Nathan Lee commands the stage and is felt from the moment the lights come up. Opening with a standout performance of "Wilkommen," Lee captivates with a dark, controlled vocal tone and ethereal vibrato, balancing pleasure and unease to expose the club's constructed facade. Through witty ad-libs and sharp comedic timing, he builds the intimate connection with the audience that Cabaret thrives on. Lee also executes the shift into a darker character in Act 2 flawlessly, embodying the rising threat that fascist Germany poses. While the Emcee serves as the production's guiding force of the evening, Sally Bowles exists within the illusion, embodying both the allure and fleeting glamour of the Kit Kat Club. Portrayed by Murphy Finnegan, Sally leads the Kit Kat Girls with intoxicating charisma in numbers such as "Don't Tell Mama" and "Mein Herr," before revealing unique vulnerability in "Maybe This Time" and "Cabaret," where her masterfully controlled vocals and expressive acting uncover Sally's underlying desperation to be loved.
In the midst of the production's deception, the Kit Kat Girls, Fritzie, Lulu, Texas, Rosie, Frenchie, and Helga, portrayed by Sofia Terpak, Holland Hasle, Ashley Kennedy, Lily Maher, Sydney Treon, and Ainsley Zauel, respectively, execute complex Fosse-inspired choreography with edgy precision. Each performer establishes a distinct identity, drawing the audience into the same atmosphere of seductive denial. Notably, Holland Hasle's Lulu stands out, as she executes clean extensions and ballet-inspired turns with consistently engaging facials, even through technically demanding numbers.
The production's worldbuilding is further heightened by its design teams. Costuming, led by Lila Helleran, presents a flashy and period-appropriate interpretation of Cabaret, while hair and makeup, led by LJ Rex, create an authenticity of 1930s Berlin through distinct, era-inspired wig and makeup styling for each Kit Kat Club Girl. Lighting, designed and operated by Sage Esarey, underscores the production's emotional arc, most notably in "Cabaret," where red and white split lighting heightens Sally's realization that her world is an illusion. Throughout the show, shadow and contrast are used purposefully, reinforcing the moral ambiguity that Cabaret conveys and creating a creative noir-inspired atmosphere.
Lake Braddock Secondary School's Cabaret is a production that leaves a lasting memory, a haunting exploration of illusion and denial in a world on the verge of corruption. Through committed sensual performances and period-accurate design, Cabaret at Lake Braddock captures both the seductive glamour of the Kit Kat Club and the darkness that consumes it, leaving audiences with an eerie message that denial and indifference will only lead to danger.
Written by Maisie Smith-Zoh of Oakton High School
The talented cast of Lake Braddock Secondary School's Cabaret bid audiences "Wilkommen" into an evocative tale of entertainment, humanity, and the unnerving reality of escapism.
Cabaret made history with its Broadway premiere in 1966 as one of the first major contemporary theatrical productions to serve as a social commentary, addressing the rise to power of the Nazi Party in 1930s Germany. Created by Joe Masteroff, John Kander, and Fred Ebb, the musical is based on John Van Druten's play "I Am a Camera" and its source material, Christopher Isherwood's "Goodbye to Berlin". It follows the performers and patrons of the Kit Kat Klub and reaches into progressively darker themes as it captures Berlin's gradual descent from bright glitz and glamour into fascism.
Lake Braddock Secondary School's rendition of Cabaret was captivating - its combination of classic, passionate divertissement and the detrimental impact of Germany's Third Reich on the lives of all Berliners was gripping. A particularly notable aspect of the show was the range demonstrated by each actor; the entire cast powerfully connected their compelling Kit Kat Klub personas to the realist humans their characters became after being faced with horrors.
The Klub's emcee, played by Nathan Lee, started the show off with beguiling comedy and crowd work, employing charisma and humor to introduce the setting and its skilled performers. And yet, as the show went on, Lee's interpretation of the emcee's character shifted poignantly into one portraying devastation and longing as the reach of the Nazi regime grew closer and closer to his life's work, leaving audiences haunted by the plot's brutal finale for his character. Murphy Finnegan as Sally Bowles also brought complete transformation to life onstage, beginning as an alluring performer at the show's central venue before reaching a breaking point during the powerful titular song that featured smeared makeup and abject terror. Sally's character growth was made clear by Finnegan's inflection, consistent English accent, and incredible vocal talent in every number in which she featured; the power behind her voice was notable even in scenes where she sang while upside down.
Equally awe-inspiring were the talents of Cabaret's supporting cast. In the role of Kit Kat Klub performer Lulu, Holland Hasle shone as a distinctly outstanding dancer, steadily executing technically demanding choreography alongside Sally and the other Kit Kat girls. Outside of the dazzling world of entertainment, the heartwarming relationship between Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, played by Lilly Baldwin and Beatryx Duncan respectively, was placed under scrutiny - Schultz, a Jewish German, had to strike a balance between fear and comforting Schneider, which Duncan's interpretation portrayed masterfully.
The technical elements of Cabaret crafted an engaging, believable setting for the haunting narrative. Cole Conques's set was extraordinarily versatile, transfiguring into a variety of backdrops with only small changes and playing a pivotal role in the show's heartbreaking final moment. Additionally, lighting by Sage Esarey was exceedingly precise, especially as it cast an ominous red glow over proponents of the Nazi regime before snapping onto the isolated Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz at the end of the first act. Costumes, by Lila Halleran, were also exceptional, adding to the historical accuracy of the production.
Overall, Lake Braddock Secondary School's production of Cabaret (1998 Version) was spectacularly moving and memorable even long after the Kit Kat Klub's final curtain call.