Modest 'Caberet' not to be missed

"Life is beautiful ... The girls are beautiful, even the orchestra is beautiful ... Life is a cabaret."

High moments come, one after the other, in the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina's production of "Cabaret," now on stage through Oct. 25 in the Elizabeth Wallace Theatre, and you'll want to be certain to be there to take them all in.

Directed and choreographed by Russell Garrett, who has seen to an outstanding cast, and with musical direction of Jon Bell, overseeing their high quality musical performance, we in the audience are promised, right here on Hilton Head Island, an evening of exceptional musical theater.

Times have changed, in the theater and in the audiences, too, since this musical was first produced in 1966, and the film six years later in 1972. "Cabaret" was a towering groundbreaker, really, in terms of frankness and explicitness. The kind of hard-edged nightclub setting was shocking, and the scenes were played boldly and with no apology.

Just so you know, the arts center version is a bit more reserved. Not as highly sexualized as other productions I've seen. The tawdry, kind of decadent Kit Kat Club is loaded with just the right kind of interesting people -- the Kit Kat Girls -- fully costumed in the most well-chosen frocks, and the men in the company -- sailors, customs officers, a ventriloquist a Brownshirt and several "nephews" -- are fully in place, but kind of understated. The overt, flashy issues of promiscuity, drug use, bisexuality and homosexuality, among other things, along with physical and anatomical references, are presented with restraint. As it turns out, we are not so easily shocked.

You remember the compelling story. It is 1931 in Berlin, there is an economic depression, a political crisis, and there are rumors of the rise of the Nazi Party. So when Daniel Frank Kelley, as the Emcee, in tuxedo and rouged cheeks, invites us into the Kit Kat Club and introduces us to the Kit Kat Girls with his legendary "Wilkommen," we absolutely want to join him ... and to leave outside, the circumstances of the times.

Critical to advancing the story line is the meeting of two men in a European train car. One, Ian Lowe as the Berliner, Ernst Ludwig, who we find is involved in political activity and who eventually wears a swastika on his sleeve, and the naive Clifford Bradshaw, played by Ben Gunderson, an American on his way to Berlin to write his first novel. It is clear that lives will be enormously changed by this chance meeting.

It is Ernst Ludwig, who introduces Cliff, to Fraulein Schneider, played by Sue Mathys, who oversees the activities of her rooming house, and makes a financial adjustment to accommodate Cliff during his stay. And it is also Ernst who provides Cliff's introduction to the legendary Kit Kat Club, and with that, of course, to the flirtatious, among other things, Sally Bowles, played by Laura Beth Wells.

The story continues to flow as Fraulein Schneider delivers a philosophical "So What," and Sally and the Kit Kat Girls offer a feisty "Don't Tell Mama."The Kit Kat Girls, are a delight, as they kick and they spin and they do amazing things with their legs -- a bit modestly.

One of the high comedic moments comes through "Two Ladies" with the Emcee, LuLu and Herman -- that's right, Herman. They deliver some quick looks at their world, the Kit Kat Club version, and you'll enjoy every minute.

Clearly, there are some sensitive relationship moments in Cabaret, and one of my musical favorites ofthe evening comes when Fraulein Schneider and her intended, Bruce Sabath as Herr Schultz, sing "It Couldn't Please Me More," better known as "The Pineapple Song." The two are completely charming and their romance, though sad and touching, is memorable.

You'll experience an amazing response when the men join the Emcee in the most chilling version of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" with Hans, Max, Herman, Bobby, Victor and the Ventriloquist. The voices blend stunningly, but we all feel a little unsettled midway through, as we realize the impact of the message this incredible piece sends along.

The first act closes, stunningly, with a reprise of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" with Denise Cormier asFraulein Kost, and Ernst and the entire company.

Speaking of music, now would be a perfect time to mention the musicians in the stage band, positioned high above the action and in full Kit Kat Club costumes, who see to the flow of the music, and of course to the flow of the show. Truly, their kind of prelude/entree act after the intermission is another one of those amazing musical moments. What a treat.

Things wrap up in the second act. Though we anticipate the resolution, we still hope, somehow, that there might have been another ending.Still, we feel it coming.

We are touched, again, by Herr Schultz's "Married Reprise," and the soul searching "What Would You Do?" of Fraulein Schneider. All of which makes the Emcee's "I Don't Care Much" the more impactful.

The evening concludes with Sally's powerful "Cabaret," and the full company in the "Finale Ultimo."

"Life, for all, has been turned upside down ... but the Emcee tells us 'nothing to worry about, things are fine in the Kit Kat Club.'"