(Bill Kenwright Productions)
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| Will Young & Louise Rednapp |
Kander and Ebb’s musical is set in Berlin, during 1931, at the beginning of Hitler’s rise to power. Sally Bowles, an educated girl from Chelsea, is working as a cabaret performer in the infamous Kit Kat club, a hedonist’s paradise, when an American novelist fortuitously arrives on the day she is sacked. They get swept up in the decedent rhythms of the German capital at a time of huge political upheaval and change.
Rufus Norris’ direction is suitably dark and he utilises the wonderfully adaptable set designed by Katrina Lindsay. Javier De Frutos’ choreography is incredibly physical, requiring an immense level of skill and trust from the dancers. The ensemble are fully committed throughout and their focus is unwavering.
Will Young is wonderfully grotesque as the Emcee and clearly revels in his role. He obviously delivers vocally with the classics ‘Wilkommen’ and ‘The Money Song’. While Louise Rednapp’s lack of experience as an actress shows, her skill as a singer shines through with ‘Mein Herr’ and ‘Maybe This Time’. She delivers a perfectly clipped Chelsea accent too. Susan Penhaligon and Linal Haft enchant the audience as the twilight lovers Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz and Basienka Blake is striking as ‘a lady of the night’, Fräulein Kost. Her rendition of ‘Tomorrow Belongs To Me’ is as haunting as the Emcee’s version is disturbing. Charles Hagerty gives a truly superb performance as the novelist, Clifford. The authenticity will which he portrays his character is faultless and captivating. An interpretation that is worthy of top billing.
This is a sell out at Malvern Festival Theatre but is definitely worth trying to obtain returns. If you already have tickets, then you are in for a great night.
