BWW Reviews: CABARET

There are more than a few elderly fellas in West Broward who spent this morning with rampant libidos and soaring blood pressure. How do I know? They were sitting behind me at Broward Stage Door's CABARET. And enjoying the show with mating calls from time immemorial whenever the six beautiful Kit Kat girls scantied their way around the stage. And their pleasure didn't detract one teeny bit from this excellent version of CABARET.

The Kit Kat girls were doing their pre-show stretching exercises on stage as the audience entered. A well received tease from Director Dan Kelley.

But hey, CABARET isn't only about sex. It's 1931 in Berlin and there's heart break aplenty, the rise of the Nazi Party, antisemitism. It's filled with wonderful songs, dancing and lip trembling tears. Cynicism, drugs, booze, loose women and raging homosexuals are some of the treats on stage. It's deliciously funny. And tres risqué.

Based on Christopher Isherwood's 1939 Goodbye to Berlin, CABARET was first produced on Broadway in 1966; testament to the excellence of the music by John Kander, the lyrics by Fred Ebb and the book by Joe Masteroff.

Katherine Amadeo plays Sally Bowles, Kit Kat star, addicted to the night life and its horizontal pleasures. She is particularly effective in the dramatic second act. Ronen Bay is the emcee, the epitome of decadence in a performance worthy of any other who's ventured the role. Pierre Tannous is quietly outstanding as Cliff, the American writer who falls for Sally and Ben Prayz excels as Ernst Ludwig, the Nazi, bringing to the fore a role that is sometimes subdued. Michael H. Small is fruiterer Herr Schultz and Elissa D. Solomon is landlady Fraulein Schneider. Both bring wonderful tenderness to their intertwining roles. Katrina Michaels is Fraulein Kost, lover of sailors. But only for money.

The nubile Kit Kat girls, those who raised the palpitation levels into the red, are Alexandra Dow, Laura Gill, Lauren Kay, Sandi M. Stock, Emily Tarallo, and Krystal Millie Valdez.

The prancing Kit Kat boys are James Giordano, Keegan Tanner, Ben Solmor and David Vogel. Hilarious. Ben Solmor, it should be noted, is also the choreographer who brought the salaciously imaginative dancing to the show.

Lighting by Andrew Myers, set by Sean McClelland, orchestrations by David Cohen, costumes by Dan Kelly and sound by Azzy More. Michael Larsen is the musical director.

Broward Stage Door has presented some fine musicals over the years. This show is one of their best.

CABARET plays through March 15 at Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 West Sample Road, Coral Springs. 954-344-7765 http://www.stagedoortheatre.com

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