Since being back in Stratford I’ve been to see many shows at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. My first introduction to this season was Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Cabaret staring Bruce Dow as the Emcee and Trish Lindstrom as Sally Bowles. Since being home I’ve already watched Cabaret twice. Needless to say I loved the show from Wilkommen to the finale.
This is not the Cabaret of Liza Minnelli this is a Cabaret that is both fresh and exciting. It’s a show full of energy and sexuality. And it’s the kind of musical that I love, one that makes you think. Not many musicals are thought provoking, they are rather a toothy all is happy and wonderful with the world. It’s not very often that you see Natzis in a musical. The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has done a wonderful job bring the pre-Nazi era to it’s stage. The Nazis are even more disturbing in this production as you cannot see their faces, they covered with a black cloth.
I cannot leave this post without talking about another amazing set design by Douglas Paraschuk. Every time he does a design you know you’re in for a treat and have a lot to take in. With the simple yet complex design of Cabaret Paraschuk has out done himself.
Cabaret is an amazing production and it was an amazing way to start the start my first season at Stratford. It’s true what the Emcee says to open the show, ” So – life is disappointing? Forget it! We have no troubles here! Here life is beautiful…The girls are beautiful…Even the orchestra is beautiful”
That's the Book! 