The iconic musical 'Cabaret' is set to take the stage at Teatru Manoel in May. Promising a visually stunning production, with powerful performances by an acclaimed cast of performers and backed by a live 16-piece orchestra, this musical is not one to be missed.
Set against the decline of the Jazz Age and the rise of the Nazi party to power in 1929 to 1930 Berlin, the musical focuses on the hedonistic nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Club, and follows the romance between writer Clifford Bradshaw and cabaret performer Sally Bowles. The Emcee watches over as the show unfolds, and leads us in with an important instruction: "Leave your troubles outside". Just as the characters in 'Cabaret' do, audiences are invited to escape into the wonder and magic of the Kit Kat Club and forget about the outside world for an evening.
When 'Cabaret' first premiered in Broadway in 1966, less than two decades had passed since the Nazis decimated Europe of Jews, of political dissidents, of homosexuals and of anyone they deemed unacceptable. Despite its flashy visuals and jazzy tunes, there are some very powerful and painful undercurrents running throughout the storyline. Themes of oppression, loss, and power juxtapose strongly against the flashy backdrop of Weimar Germany and the seemingly flashy lifestyle of those at the Kit Kat Club.
"This is a musical that reflects harsh realities, and makes us aware of the world that we live in, and what contrasts we live in," said Teatru Manoel Artistic Director Adrian Mamo. "Therefore, it's a story that we can relate to. Even if we're not experiencing the exact conditions that 'Cabaret' portrays, we're still living through turbulent times. 'Leaving your troubles outside' is something that everyone can relate to, because we all want a place to escape to."
Towards the 1920/30s, vaudevillian cabarets in Germany (particularly in Berlin) were often considered a safe space for individuals from various backgrounds and sections of society, and their distinctive style was a product of all these people coming together and expressing themselves artisitically. The parallels between this setting and the world of the theatre here are easy to identify. The events in 'Cabaret' foreshadow the heartbreaking night known as 'Kristallnacht'; an evening where the Nazi party attacked and ransacked Jewish-owned homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses. "Part of theatre is always to give us, as audience a glimpse of life through other people's eyes," continued Mamo "As theatre-makers, I believe it is important that we present these works, where we can see the world from very different eyes. It heightens our understanding of the world, of people who are oppressed, and societies which have suffered, and the ways that they cope."
This production of 'Cabaret' boasts a stellar cast who promises to deliver strong vocals and energetic dance moves. Teatru Manoel's Cabaret features direction and choreography by Lucienne Camilleri, musical direction by Ryan Paul Abela and Stefania Grech Vella as the costume designer. The production stars Sean Borg as the Emcee and Maxine Aquilina as Sally Bowles, two iconic roles performed by Joel Grey and Hollywood legend Liza Minelli in the 1972 film adaptation of the musical. Other notable cast members include Isabel Warrington as Fraulein Schneider, Stephen Oliver as Herr Schultz, Jason Scerri as Clifford Bradshaw, Neville Refalo as Ernst Ludwig and Natassja Chapman as Fraulein Kost alongside an ensemble of eleven chorus members, and supported by a 16-piece orchestra.
On performing the iconic role of the Emcee, Sean Borg said "I am truly honoured and humbled to be playing the Emcee in Teatru Manoel's production of 'Cabaret'. Roles like this don't come around often and I couldn't be more thrilled to bring this complex character to life. To do this at Teatru Manoel with such a talented cast makes the experience much more exceptional. It doesn't get much better than this!"
'Cabaret' runs from 10 to 19 May at Teatru Manoel. For more information and to get your tickets, visit https://teatrumanoel.mt or call the Box Office at (+356) 21246389.
Photos: Neil Grech
