New Wimbledon Theatre 21 – 30 September, UK Tour until December 2017. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Will Young’s Emcee has the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he appears on stage in this touring production of Cabaret. Rufus Norris’s production never shies away from the growing menace as the people of Berlin enjoy their final year of freedom and decadence before the Nazis take power.
The Emcee oversees the action as American Cliff arrives in Berlin and is taken under the wing of genial Ernst Ludwig. Cliff bumps into his old boyfriend Bobby at the Kit Kat Club, and meets Sally Bowles, who moves in with him. Their whirlwind life of parties, sex, drugs and drink can’t carry on forever, but Sally is determined to ignore what is happening in the country, become a star and enjoy herself. Rufus Norris portrays the growing unease, and the persecution of untermenschen stylishly and brutally, and the final downbeat and devastating scene will bring a lump to your throat.
Will Young was born to play Emcee, with wonderfully over the top mannerisms, switching from fey and funny to threatening, to lovelorn and bereft with consummate ease. You can’t take your eyes off him when he is onstage. And his voice is gorgeous – his vocals on Tomorrow Belongs to Me are sublime, and I Don’t Care Much will give you goose-bumps. Louise Rednapp does well in her first theatrical role. Her voice is strong and wrings the emotion from her solos, and as she has more stage experience over the tour, I think she will grow into the role as her acting confidence develops. Charles Hagerty is impressive as Cliff, with deliciously smooth vocals. Susan Penhaligon and Linal Haft are a joy to watch as Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, their sweet romance is a lovely counterpoint to the shallowness of the younger characters, and the two actors bring gravitas and humour to the roles.
Javier De Frutos’s bawdy and athletic choreography, performed flawlessly by the ensemble, compliments Kander and Ebb’s glorious musical numbers. This production is just the complete musical package. If it’s coming to a theatre near you, beg, borrow or steal a ticket.
UK Tour Dates:
Blackpool Winter Gardens, Blackpool 3 – 7 October
Festival Theatre, Malvern 10 – 14 October
New Theatre, Cardiff 17 – 21 October
Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds 24 – 28 October
MK Theatre, Milton Keynes 31 October – 4 November
The Lowry, Salford 7 – 11 November
Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh 14 – 18 November
Churchill Theatre, Bromley 21 – 25 November
Theatre Royal, Brighton 5 – 9 December