What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play…at Quad City Music Guild’s production of the groundbreaking, multi-award winning musical, Cabaret, with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masterhoff and brilliantly directed by Luke Vermeire.
I say groundbreaking because this is no happy-go-lucky Oklahoma. Premiering in 1966, “It is widely considered groundbreaking for revolutionizing musical theatre, largely due to how it tackled serious, dark, and taboo subjects. It was a key step in the development of the ‘concept musical,’ moving away from the traditional, optimistic Rodgers and Hammerstein style toward a ‘bizarre, crackling, harsh’ form that used song and dance for social commentary.” It contains dark and political themes with references to excessive alcohol use, drugs, sex, racial slurs and abortion.
The show is set in the underbelly of 1930’s Berlin during the twilight of the Jazz Age and the Nazi’s rise to power. Most of the action takes place at the licentious Kit Kat Klub where debauchery prevails and politics are ignored. Nearly penniless American Clifford Bradshaw has just arrived on New Year’s Eve hoping Berlin will inspire him to write his first novel. On the train he’s befriended by black marketeer, Ernst Ludwig, who offers to employ him as an English tutor and who eventually lures him into becoming one of his mules. Ernst helps Cliff find lodging at a local boarding house and also persuades him to meet that night at the Kit Kat Club – the best cabaret in town – to ring in the New Year where the promiscuous chanteuse Sally Bowles chats him up and, because of a run-in with the club’s owner, finds herself unemployed, so she exercises her wiles on Cliff to move in with him. At the boarding house we are introduced to its owner, spinster Frau Schneider, and long-time tenant Herr Schultz, a fruit vendor. They provide a sub-plot of falling in love with the intention to marry, but there is a problem. Schultz is a Jew.
Taking on the iconic role of the Kit Kat Klub’s emcee is John Whitson who absolutely explodes onto the stage in the “Willkommen” number with atomic energy that will have you expecting a mushroom cloud. He rules all his scenes and leaves you wanting more. His performance is big and bold and absolutely captivating.
As Cliff and Sally are Daniel Williams and Stephanie Moeller whose “Perfectly Marvelous” number will have you in their corner. Valerie Pieper’s Frau Schneider is subtle and gentle and real-life husband Kevin Pieper’s performance as Schultz is perfectly tentative and endearing which only enhances his misguided belief that rising fascism will just quietly dissipate.
Vermeire also takes credit for a well-designed set that makes for jet propelled scene changes and captures the era really well. He also employs the use of constantly present smoke hanging over the action which may symbolize the cloud of fascism that hovers over them or may be a precursor of the smoke from future ovens. His concept of dressing the emcee in a business suit with a big, bold, bright red tie that reaches almost to the floor for the “Money” (makes the world go round) scene which – to my mind – makes a subtle, timely statement that brings to mind a certain reality show person that used another song about money as its theme.
Without doubt the ending of the show is deeply compelling and provocative which I will not reveal so as not to lessen its impact.
So, put down the knitting, the mop and the broom. It’s time for a holiday at Music Guild, but be advised that because of the adult content this is not a show for your kiddos.
Cabaret continues at Quad City Music Guild in Moline’s Prospect Park, Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. If you’re new to Music Guild, be advised that parking at the theatre is limited to the handicapped and to volunteers only. All others can catch a shuttle from the Southpark Mall’s parking lot east of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.