REVIEW: Jo Feesey gives her verdict on Cabaret

By jfeesey

Cabaret

Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple

Until Saturday June 20

Review: Jo Feesey

WILLKOMMEN, bienvenue and welcome to a land of lederhosen and suspenders — a sight which no doubt shocked the Barnstaple audience as much as it did Cliff Bradshaw (Henry Luxemburg) when he stepped onto the platform at Berlin's train station.

Cliff, a budding author from America, is drawn in by the bright lights of the city's after-hour antics and the magic of some of its rather eccentric characters.

At the epicentre of this up-and-coming world is the erotic Kit Kat Klub, where 'outside it is winter but in here it is so hot'. Here Cliff meets the elusive Sally Bowles, played by I'd Do Anything finalist Samantha Barks, and is captivated by her wild surroundings.

Sally lives her life like a movie star and seems to find it hard to distinguish between real life and the razzamataz of Berlin. Barks captures this 'fakeness' perfectly by over-acting every line, punctuating each word for maximum impact and drama. It is not until the end of Act One, during Maybe This Time, that the audience witnesses raw emotion from Sally and Barks really lets go, showcasing her impressive range and ability to mesmerise an audience with her powerful voice.

The Kit Kat Klub is under the command of resident Master of Ceremonies, Emcee (Wayne Sleep), a clown-like, seedy man who has the girls (and guys) at the Klub falling at his feet. Sleep excels in this role, his nimbleness and lightness on his feet giving him the ability to creep around the stage like the scary child-catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. As a renowned dancer Sleep doesn't disappoint, albeit in surprising ways.

Jenny Logan and Matt Zimmerman also give stand-out performances as Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, the stars of the show's subplot. The comedic rapport between the two in Act One makes the poignant moments of Act Two all the more tear-jerking.

As expected with a touring show, the scenery and props are simple and versatile. Beds double up as cages for the sexy dancers at the Klub and wheel-on staircases carrying eye candy are whisked from corner to corner with dramatic effect. Little more than an illuminated sign and a sparkly backdrop are used to transport us from the dingy boarding house to the glitz and glamour of the city's nightlife.

The contrast between the two acts is stark. In the latter part of the show the characters are forced to wake up as society changes and the party ends. Sally asks 'What's politics got to do with us?' Well, quite a lot, as it goes. The increasing Nazi presence in Germany forces the main characters to make difficult decisions and emotional performances from both Barks and Luxemburg make compelling viewing. As the lights go out at the Kabaret the audience is left very much aware that tragically the rest, as they say, is history.