Cabaret at Fort Lewis College is an immersive theatrical experience. From the moment guests enter the Mainstage Theater’s lobby they are transported to Berlin in 1931. They are in the lobby of the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where anything goes. Show girls and boys, the Emcee and the owner are there to greet them while mocktails are served.
Once the theater doors open, the club encompasses the entire stage. Small round tables, lit by candlelight, are at the base of the set. This provides more immersion as audience members are seated there to further enjoy the ambiance. The entire theater is used for the show. It is a true cabaret, as performers come off the stage to interact with those seated in the house.
Cabaret, by Joe Masteroff with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, is the story of the Kit Kat Klub and those who work and play within its walls. It is the peak of the party scene in Berlin just as Hitler and his Nazis are coming into power. It follows the story of one performer, Sally Bowles, and American writer Cliff Bradshaw as they embark on a turbulent love affair amidst politics and alcohol.
The musical opens with the show’s strongest actor, the Emcee, impeccably performed with grace and beauty by Oliver Kennedy. It is his job to guide the audience through the storyline — from introducing the cabaret performers to shepherding the entire story as it unfolds onstage. Kennedy is not only the Emcee; he is the German guard who seeks papers from Cliff Bradshaw as he arrives in Berlin, and he is the performer who is always watching over the action. Is he a spy, a concerned friend, or a guardian angel?
Cliff (Kieran Peck) is the idealist who arrives in Berlin ready to write a novel and experience life in a new setting. He is met by Ernst (Wyatt Krob), who not only finds Cliff a place to live but also invites him to the club. Peck’s Cliff is almost innocent and highly likable. He feels like the nice guy next door, and Sally Bowles (Siena Widen) is more than ready to take advantage of his kindness.
Siena is a favorite in the Durango theatre scene. Her voice is strong, yet lovely and her performances are always memorable. She portrays the strong and independent woman with depth and understanding, and Sally is a complex, unlikable character in many ways. Siena, however, manages to play her with a vulnerability that captures the audience’s compassion and heart.
While Cliff and Sally pull the audience into their love story, there is an alternate love story between Fraulein Schneider (Haley Sandford) and Herr Schultz (Dominik MorningDove). These two perform the sweet courtship and showcase their exquisite singing voices as well.
Cabaret is yet another nearly flawless production from director Michael E. McKelvey. It is outrageously fun and at times devastatingly tragic. The story has adult themes and some violent scenes. It is not for young children, but it is certainly for anyone who wants to have a memorable theater experience they will be talking about for years to come.
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