By Jessica Kennedy.
With all that life has thrown our way lately, who wouldn’t want to escape for a little while? Well, at the Argyle Theater in Babylon- life is a cabaret!
Setting: 1930s Berlin, Germany. English performer, Sally Bowles, sings her heart out at The Kit Kat Klub, trying to create beauty amid her sordid clientele, while also seeking to block out the emergence of the Nazi party and its ubiquitous presence in her beloved home. Enter American writer Cliff Bradshaw, coming to Berlin in the hopes of finding a muse, and together they find solace, heartbreak, and even inspiration. While the main plot line seems to follow the standard boy meets girl, star-crossed lovers trope, the subplots which fill out the story tell a much darker tale about the ominous political developments in Germany prior to WWII. This musical first appeared on Broadway in 1966, and inspired numerous subsequent productions and revivals, as well as a film by the same name which was released in 1972.
I had not seen this show prior to attending the opening night performance at the Argyle, so I was not quite sure what to expect. The set- curated carefully by Audrey Vuong- is simple, yet dynamic. The large, illuminated frames on either side of the stage serve to enhance the performers’ movements (especially during the dance numbers), and help to highlight characters at points of high emotional intensity throughout the show. And speaking of emotional intensity- this show is packed with powerful performances from the entire cast. Eddie Maldonado as the Emcee brings an electric energy to the show from its opening song- both dazzling and seductive, he oozes sensuality while also serving to poignantly illuminate the troubling course of events as the storyline progresses. His performance of “If You Could See Her” is a perfect example of his impressive ability to deliver a performance that is highly entertaining while also serious and profound. Jillian Louis is likewise impressive in her protrayal of Sally Bowles- a complex character who is simultaneously adorable and abhorrent. Louis shows impressive skill in making Sally feel real- you can’t help but fall in love with her, despite her willful ignorance and self destructive tendencies. Additionally, Louis has- quite simply- an amazing voice. Her tone is seductive and soothing, her vibrato is perfection. Her flawless rendition of “Maybe This Time” has likely ruined me from fully enjoying any other version of this song in the future.
All in all, this show was beautifully set, staged, and performed. I enjoyed it thoroughly- and I know you will too!