":Cabaret" presented by the AT&T Performing Arts Center

The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend decided to head East to that other town that is part of the DFW Metroplex, Dallas.  But be not afraid, we only venture over to the Winspear Opera House when the sun is out, for a Sunday matinee performance.

The reason for our journey East was to see the touring production of "Cabaret".  And The Travelling Toe must admit that it was an excellent presentation.

From the start, cast and orchestra members were on stage doing stretches, tuning instruments and other assorted things.  Then we hear a voice that calls out, "Welcome To The Kit Kat Klub".  The orchestra members take their places and with a few chords soon we are taken back in time to 1930's Berlin to that famous nightclub.  The "Emcee" walks on stage and with the cast they sing and dance to that exuberant number "Willkommen".  

The musical is based on a play called"'I Am A Camera: by John Van Druten's, and a novel by Christoper Isherwood's, "Goodbye to Berlin".  

Dear Reader if you are not familiar with with story line of "Cabaret", have you been living under a rock?  

OK, here is just a very brief overview of the musical.  The Nazis are beginning to rise to power and we slowly see scenes of this erosion of German life touch even the decadent "'Kit Kat Klub".  

The star performer at the club is Sally Bowles.  A newly arrived tourist,  American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, becomes enamored with her. When she is fired from the nightclub, Sally moves in with Cliff.  She tells him she is pregnant with his child. In order to support them, Cliff makes trips to Paris to bring back contraband items.  They live in a seedy rooming house. There we meet the landlady, Fraulein Schneider who is trying to stay afloat.  One of her tenants is a Jewish fruit vendor, Herr Schultz.  He is always bringing her fruit from his market. They too fall in love and decide to get married, but Fraulein Schneider is cautioned about marrying a Jewish man and the marriage is cancelled.  Cliff becomes more concerned about the political situation in Germany and tells Sally they are leaving for America.  But Sally has other plans.  She tells Cliff she has had an abortion and plans to go back to work at the Kit Kat Klub.  Cliff tries to talk her into coming with him but she refuses and he leaves without her.

Yes, it does sound like a deary story and it is.  But the music tells so much more than that. 

The actor who played the Emcee, Randy Harrison, was awesome.  He had the perfect voice for the role and really embraced that eccentric and decadent role.  His costumes and   make-up just accentuated the part he played even more.

Was it worth the hassle on the freeway to get to Dallas?  Well, for this performance, it is a resounding YES!!!

CABARET
(provided by Winspear Opera House)