STAGE LEFT PLAYERS Cast of 'Cabaret' struts its stuff

This risqu & eacute; musical is definitely for mature theatergoers.
BY MARGARET NERY
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LISBON -- With a seductive wave of his hand, an eccentric master of ceremonies captured the attention of the audience Friday night at the David Anderson High School where Stage Left Players of Lisbon presented its personalized musical interpretation of Kander and Ebb's rollicking and shockingly intimate "Cabaret."
Welcomed by the sly, slightly sleazy, cross-dressing master of ceremonies, those who came to the"Cabaret" were treated to an evening of outstanding music, serious moments, sexy innuendoes and amusing high jinks.
Based on the decadence and debauchery of the World War II years in Berlin and written with mature audiences in mind, this risqu & eacute; musical provides a roller-coaster ride of emotions that contrasts the unbridled fun of the era with the fear and gloom created by the Nazi invasion.
The story centers on the struggles of Sally Bowles (a talented Elise Adams), a British expatriate, cabaret star and wannabe film actress whose lack of morals are apparent as she playfully sings the amusing warning, "Don't Tell Mama."
It is obvious that the flirtatious Sally sleeps around in order to further her career until Clifford Bradshaw (Sean Loutzenhiser) comes into her life. She settles in with the would-be author who has traveled to Berlin in search of ideas for a novel but finds love instead and becomes involved in rather shady dealings.
Poignant subplot
The subplot deals with the poignant interracial romance between a middle-aged couple, Fraulein Schneider (Kathy Fawcett) who runs a boarding house, and a fruit market owner Herr Schultz (Dick Fawcett), an Aryan and a Jew. Because they have found love, they joyfully contemplate the prospect of "never having to eat alone." However, their dreams of happiness are eventually shattered.
One room in the Schneider establishment is rented to Fraulein Kost (Jaclyn Drake) an enterprising young woman who nightly entertains an endless assortment of "nephews" who are members of the navy. She sings the spine-tingling "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," that begins to resemble a military march as she is joined by the ensemble and the devious Ernst Ludwig (Jared Mason), a Nazi sympathizer.
Flamboyant star
There is little doubt that the star of the show is the flamboyant Kat Klub Emcee who pops up in unexpected places and is at his amusing best (or worst) as he joins Ana and Fritzie (Anna Sturgeon and Trena Garrison) in a rowdy, sexy version of "Two Ladies." Played with a wonderful cynical attitude by Chip Cleland, the slyly interspersed commentaries of the delightful emcee welds all the parts together into a dramatic musical masterpiece.
Also attributing to the success of the show are rousing production numbers such as "Willkommen" that are delivered with gusto and complete lack of inhibitions by a group of talented, albeit scantily clad, youngsters that make up the Kit Kat girls and boys and the ensemble.
Directed effectively by Kandace Cleland and staged to music directed by Jodine Pilmer, the production is rounded out by the series of suggestive, somewhat naughty dance routines imaginatively choreographed by Adam Roberts.
Although this musical is not all light and fluff and has a rather moving ending, "Cabaret" manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking -- replete with good performances and marvelous songs.
Whether seduced by the captivating master of ceremonies or lured by curiosity, theatergoers will discover life, love and lust if you come to the "Cabaret."