By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
The Cazenovia College production of “Cabaret” featured incredible talent drawn from the student body and faculty, as well as from the local community. The provocative and highly entertaining show — directed and choreographed by Cazenovia College Artist in Residence David Lowenstein — ran April 5-7 and April 12-14 at the Catherine Cummings Theatre.
“Cabaret” is a Tony Award-winning musical that debuted on Broadway in 1966 with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Joe Masteroff.
Set in Berlin as the Nazis begin their rise to power, “Cabaret” follows the employees and clientele of the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy nightclub overseen by the Master of Ceremonies, or “Emcee.” The story centers on the romance between American writer Cliff Bradshaw and English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, a subplot follows the doomed love affair between Jewish fruit vendor Herr Schultz and his landlady, Fräulein Schneider.
The college’s production of “Cabaret” was captivating and powerful. Although the story is more about survival and politics than lighthearted fun and optimism, the edgy show did not fail to delight audiences with classic song-and-dance numbers, witty double-entendres and a phenomenal stage band.
In his director note, Lowenstein describes ‘Cabaret’ as a cautionary tale, reminding audiences that entertainment is a powerful, yet temporary distraction from the harsh realities of the surrounding world.
“Great art holds a mirror to society and it seems the right time to tell this story again,” Lowenstein wrote. “As we live in a time of incredible divisiveness, it’s important to look back in history at other times when this was true . . . There is a universal theme that resonates within the story of this seedy little Cabaret. It represents a sanctuary for the ‘others’ of society and is ultimately destroyed by the very thing it was trying to pretend didn’t exist outside [its] doors. . .”
Gennaro Parlato, as the likeable Herr Schultz, and Anthony Newill, as the Nazi Ernst Ludwig, delivered noteworthy performances.
In their leading roles as Sally Bowles and Cliff Bradshaw, Gabriell Strumble and Dave Mihill both exhibited beautiful singing voices. The quality of Strumble’s voice, in particular, was highlighted in “Maybe This Time” and “Cabaret.” Unfortunately, on several occasions, her voice seemed to be overwhelmed by the instrumentation.
Ryan Detomi, Frolic Taylor and Jordan Rector shone exceptionally bright in their roles.
As the Emcee, Detomi perfectly captured the alluring, flamboyant and slightly sinister nature of his character. His energy, emotional expression and stage presence combined to produce an unforgettable performance.
Detomi’s emotionally charged rendition of “I Don’t Care Much” was particularly impactful. His appearance was striking, his voice was strong and his trombone playing was unexpected and impressive.
Taylor, as Fräulein Schneider, delivered a stunning performance. A natural on the stage, she sang with genuine emotion and acted with ease. Her heartbreaking performance of “What Would You Do?” was a highlight of the show.
Moving in and out of scenes, Rector captivated audiences as Fräulein Kost—a boarder in Fräulein Schneider’s house. Her singing talent was unsurpassed, as evidenced in “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” and “Married.”
The scantily clad Kit Kat Girls notably enhanced scenes with their energy, charisma and talent. Particularly entertaining numbers were “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Money.”
To learn about upcoming events at the Catherine Cummings Theatre, visit cazenovia.edu/art-and-theatre/catherine-cummings-theatre.
