Grab a seat and relax! Oh, and don’t tell your mama you went to see the “Cabaret” at the Los Angeles Pierce College now showing until May 18.
“Cabaret” is a musical that premiered in 1966 and takes place in Berlin, Germany, during the 1930s at a time when the Nazis were rising to power. The musical revolves around the Kit Kat Klub where Sally Bowles (Maddie McKay), a British singer, works and performs. Shefinds herself in a romance with a man named Cliff Bradshaw (Dylan Coogan), an aspiring novelist who has escaped to Berlin for inspiration for his writing.
Throughout the musical, the cabaret is glittering on the outside but beneath it all is a slow burning tragedy with the hardships and treatment of what people were experiencing during this time period. Sally chooses to ignore the outside world and loses herself in the cabaret lifestyle. A romance even unfolds between the boarding house owner, Fraulein Schneider and a Jewish fruit vendor, Herr Schultz which shows the societal changes and the rising of antisemitism.
The cabaret was brought to life by the Pierce College Theatre Department and is directed by Shaheen Vaaz with musical direction by Ryan Espinosa.
The show starts before the curtain. The Kit Kat Klub waitresses walk up and down the aisles in their bold fun outfits among the audience members encouraging them to have a seat and relax as if waiting for the cabaret show to begin.
Ali Suliman plays the lead character Emcee. He has multiple music numbers about alcohol, sex and banter. His outfits are fun with cut off shorts and high knee socks, and sometimes even just a muscle shirt with boxers. His bright makeup is captivating and although it is bold, he still makes it look good. His energy is ideal for the role.
There are multiple jokes throughout the show that have deeper meanings. For example, the character Fraulein Kost (Madison Cheramie) is one of the renters in the boarding house where Cliff stays. She is constantly having sailors go in and out, which looks like she is a promiscuous girl, but it is actually a metaphor for showing the financial hardships that were happening during this time period, and she is prostituting to be able to afford to stay at the boarding house.
The music numbers and each song convey the character’s emotions. A song that stands out is Fraulein Schneider (Donna Guinan) singing “What Would You Do?” Schneider reflects on her relationship with the Jewish fruit vendor Herr Schultz (Jack Bernaz). The song talks about the dilemma she has with calling off their engagement and sacrificing their love for their safety in a time where the political climate of Berlin was escalating.
Guinan’s performance of this number is touching. The emotion throughout her performance shows how hurt her character is, essentially letting go of the man she loves.
It’s interesting to hear McKay’s performance of the title number change in attitude throughout the show. At first she is the star of the cabaret and her energy is all-in, but after returning her body language conveys something is off.
Although there is a serious deeper meaning behind the musical, it still is a fun show with eye-catching outfits and makeup while getting to have a little feel of the cabaret lifestyle on campus.
“Cabaret” runs until Sunday May 18, with showtimes for Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre. Tickets are $20 for students and seniors and $25 for general admission.
Update: The choreography for “Cabaret” was done by Brian Moe.
