'Cabaret' Has A Message For The Complacent
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
"I think anyone can relate to it, but it's not a light-hearted musical," she said. The show has a message.[[In-content Ad]]Andert portrays Sally Bowles, the lead female role in Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "Cabaret."
The musical is set in pre-war 1930s Berlin, Germany. For the most part, Andert said the show is set in the Kit Kat Klub, a cabaret Club.
For Andert and WWT veteran Ben Dicke, it makes sense to have the production in theater in the round. Dicke said for the most part, the show takes place in the club, with tables around the stage. That's how the theater in the round is set up, too. Audiences are all around the stage.
Researching the show was very interesting, Dicke said. Dicke plays Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, in "Cabaret." Dicke said Bradshaw actually is based on a true author who traveled to Berlin, met an actual Sally Bowles and lived with her and their landlord. Like in the musical, the real author encountered Nazis.
During this era, Dicke said Berlin also was very political. A lot of theater greats came out during that time, creating such experimental theater like cabarets.
"It was very no-holds barred," agreed Andert. Nothing was out of bounds.
Dicke said that made the era even more interesting as a lot of the political parties at that time were interested in censorship and putting limits on people, especially artists.
However, Andert said her character lives outside of politics, even as the Nazi Party grows in strength. Sally is a free spirit and lives in the "here and now."
On the other end of the spectrum is Cliff, who Dicke said is very brooding and internal.
There are comparisons Dicke said he could make between that pre-World War II, pre-Adolf Hitler era and today. And he said he does worry about being complacent as a citizen of the world, much like Sally is in "Cabaret."
"I think we're really good at looking at ourselves and thinking everything is going well for us so we don't worry about what's going on. That's how Nazis came to power," Dicke said.
"No one was paying attention," Andert said.
Though the 2007 summer season at the Wagon Wheel starts off heavy, Dicke said the theater does a great job of having something for everyone. There's "Big" for the kids, and "Anything Goes" for the older adults this year.
But that doesn't mean "Cabaret" has a limited audience.
"I've seen many productions of this show and this is right in the middle," said Andert.
Dicke said Artistic Director Roy Hine and Choreographer Scott Michaels are very sensitive to their audience. Andert said the show is done very tastefully and by the script. The recent Broadway revival, Michaels said, takes it several steps beyond the script.
Andert and Dicke both praised their small cast for the show.
Paul Lessard plays the emcee of "Cabaret." Andert said the emcee is more like a puppeteer for the show than a narrator. "I like to think of him as more than a performer," she said. "he's the puppeteer."
Dicke said the emcee is the most beloved role in the show. Audiences identify with him.
Along with the emcee, Dicke said, "We've got a great company of girls that play the Kit Kat girls."
Andert said they are each different, but pull together for a clean show. That makes sense for the setting of the show because in Berlin they would have pulled together whoever they could get for the burlesque-like shows.
The most well-known songs in "Cabaret" are the best, Andert said, including the title song.
"The 'Money Song' is my favorite," said Dicke.
Andert said Michaels' choreography is again beautiful as with many of his shows.
Before the conclusion of the interview Monday afternoon, Andert said anyone who hasn't seen a production of "Cabaret" should see it.
"I think it's a favorite of people who do Broadway shows," she said.
"Cabaret" is at Wagon Wheel Theatre through June 16. Due to the adult subjects presented, the theater does not recommend the show for young children.
"I think anyone can relate to it, but it's not a light-hearted musical," she said. The show has a message.[[In-content Ad]]Andert portrays Sally Bowles, the lead female role in Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "Cabaret."
The musical is set in pre-war 1930s Berlin, Germany. For the most part, Andert said the show is set in the Kit Kat Klub, a cabaret Club.
For Andert and WWT veteran Ben Dicke, it makes sense to have the production in theater in the round. Dicke said for the most part, the show takes place in the club, with tables around the stage. That's how the theater in the round is set up, too. Audiences are all around the stage.
Researching the show was very interesting, Dicke said. Dicke plays Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, in "Cabaret." Dicke said Bradshaw actually is based on a true author who traveled to Berlin, met an actual Sally Bowles and lived with her and their landlord. Like in the musical, the real author encountered Nazis.
During this era, Dicke said Berlin also was very political. A lot of theater greats came out during that time, creating such experimental theater like cabarets.
"It was very no-holds barred," agreed Andert. Nothing was out of bounds.
Dicke said that made the era even more interesting as a lot of the political parties at that time were interested in censorship and putting limits on people, especially artists.
However, Andert said her character lives outside of politics, even as the Nazi Party grows in strength. Sally is a free spirit and lives in the "here and now."
On the other end of the spectrum is Cliff, who Dicke said is very brooding and internal.
There are comparisons Dicke said he could make between that pre-World War II, pre-Adolf Hitler era and today. And he said he does worry about being complacent as a citizen of the world, much like Sally is in "Cabaret."
"I think we're really good at looking at ourselves and thinking everything is going well for us so we don't worry about what's going on. That's how Nazis came to power," Dicke said.
"No one was paying attention," Andert said.
Though the 2007 summer season at the Wagon Wheel starts off heavy, Dicke said the theater does a great job of having something for everyone. There's "Big" for the kids, and "Anything Goes" for the older adults this year.
But that doesn't mean "Cabaret" has a limited audience.
"I've seen many productions of this show and this is right in the middle," said Andert.
Dicke said Artistic Director Roy Hine and Choreographer Scott Michaels are very sensitive to their audience. Andert said the show is done very tastefully and by the script. The recent Broadway revival, Michaels said, takes it several steps beyond the script.
Andert and Dicke both praised their small cast for the show.
Paul Lessard plays the emcee of "Cabaret." Andert said the emcee is more like a puppeteer for the show than a narrator. "I like to think of him as more than a performer," she said. "he's the puppeteer."
Dicke said the emcee is the most beloved role in the show. Audiences identify with him.
Along with the emcee, Dicke said, "We've got a great company of girls that play the Kit Kat girls."
Andert said they are each different, but pull together for a clean show. That makes sense for the setting of the show because in Berlin they would have pulled together whoever they could get for the burlesque-like shows.
The most well-known songs in "Cabaret" are the best, Andert said, including the title song.
"The 'Money Song' is my favorite," said Dicke.
Andert said Michaels' choreography is again beautiful as with many of his shows.
Before the conclusion of the interview Monday afternoon, Andert said anyone who hasn't seen a production of "Cabaret" should see it.
"I think it's a favorite of people who do Broadway shows," she said.
"Cabaret" is at Wagon Wheel Theatre through June 16. Due to the adult subjects presented, the theater does not recommend the show for young children.
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