BWW Previews: CABARET at The Playhouse

The Playhouse Wilkommen's UD grad Carl Pariso in the role of Cliff Bradshaw in a spectacular staging of CABARET opening March 13 through the 18th.

Pariso, an NJ resident, began his studies at UD in music composition. But he soon was attracted to theatre and eventually took that on as a minor. Providentially, his stage internship was with UD Rep Ensemble. Having had the privilege of reviewing 90% of their exquisite productions since 2008, there could have been no finer training arena for the young man with wide open eyes and a willing mind to absorb all that was around him both onstage and off.

Pariso in fact, calls the internship "a game changer in my life" and the impetus to make a career in the performing arts.

Upon graduation he did some regional theatre gigs and then finally made the move to the Big Apple. He had never seen CABARET before the auditions, either onstage or the movie, directed by the legendary GOAT, Bob Fosse. "A professor at UD played "Wilkommen" and "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" in class", he recalled, "but with no historical context, the songs honestly meant nothing to me. I thought "Wilkommen" was really strange. Now I realize the latter song was the type of historical anthem employed by Hitler to inspire the masses toward Nazisim".

After gaining the role of Cliff, Sally Bowles bisexual erstwhile lover, Carl took a crash course. Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. The story focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around young American writer Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret singer, Sally. The theatrical production was wildly successful, spawning the 1972 movie wherein Liza won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

In 1993 Sam Mendes directed a new production. To understate, this conception was quite different from the original. An analogy would be rating the number of scandals in Obama's tenure of 8 years vs. Trump's of 14 months (although it seems so very very much longer). We will see the newer, more sexualized version at The Playhouse.

The most significant change was the character of the Emcee. The role, as played by Joel Grey in both prior incarnations, was an asexual, edgy character dressed in a tuxedo, masqueraded in white face and rouged cheek. With Alan Cumming in '93, the portrayal was more decadent/carnel, as he wore suspenders around his crotch and red paint on his nipples. Cumming, and all Emcees' that followed, are characterized as leering, ghoulish and flamboyant.

The original creative crew of the late '90's has their footprints all over this production. Legendary William Ivey Long's costumes remain the same. Lighting Design is by two multiple Tony Award winners and I must say from the pictures on the tour web site, the lighting is spellbinding.

"Wilkommen" is one of the greatest openers of a Broadway show. Pariso also mentioned that in the entr'acte, the Kit Kat band players come out and entertain the audience, actually playing their own instruments. The Emcee goes into the audience and dances with at least one woman and one man, so that should be a hoot. Pariso says the audience goes nuts at that interaction.

So, Meine damen und herren, Mes dames et messieurs, Ladies and gentlemen, Aisle Say suggests you leave your troubles outside. 'Outside it is winter. Inside it is so hot the girls take off all their clothing'. Life is a cabaret, my friend.

Pariso as Cliff Bradshaw is pictured.

March 13-18 TheGrandWilmington.org 302.888.0200

Next Up: DIRTY DANCING - April 3

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