Life is a Cabaret, old chum, at the 5th Avenue Theater

Life is a Cabaret, old chum, at the 5th Avenue Theater

by Milton W. Hamlin - SGN A&E Writer CABARET 5TH AVENUE THEATRE THROUGH APRIL 13 By now, every theater fan in Seattle - and most other residents - knows that the 5th Avenue Theatre's thoroughly decadent, thoroughly delightful production of Kander & Ebb's Cabaret is one of the finest productions the theater has ever mounted. It also launches Nick Garrison - a GLBT favorite for the past decade - into the realm of superstar performers, much like the original 1960s Broadway production did for Joel Grey in the same role as the Emcee. The zippy production has been criticized - and hailed - as a Las Vegas-styled mounting of the gritty musical that is fondly remembered from its original stage production, its many regional theater stagings, the Academy Award-winning film that made Liza Minnelli into a superstar (and won her a Best Actress Oscar) and its recent "new concept" London staging that won a slew of Tony Awards when it transferred to Broadway. Cabaret is a multifaceted work, a classic of musical theater, and it's clear that it can be staged in many rewarding, diverse ways. The current glitz and glitter mounting is delightfully entertaining - and zips past the deeper, probing elements that made the original Hal Prince staging such a controversial hit. The original Hal Prince Broadway production opened with a sideshow mirror reflecting and distorting the audience. As wide as the stage, the mirror returned to end the show as the orchestra played the refrain of "What Would You Do?", the musical social commentary of the widowed landlady who rejects the Jewish fruit merchant as Hitler and his Nazi party come to the forefront. Sally has sold her fur coat to pay for an abortion, Cliff is headed back home and away from Berlin. "What Would You Do?" the musical asked the reflected audience. None of that depth is developed in the 5th Avenue's sprightly production. And it is missed. One Seattle critic observed that this "new" Cabaret seemed to be set in "a new Las Vegas casino called Berlin." However, this Cabaret is (to misquote Candide) "the best of all possible musical worlds." Nick Garrison, a Seattle GLBT favorite with Re-bar's Transgendered Hedwig And The Angry Inch as the anchor in his growing resumé, simply steals the show in every scene. Like Joel Grey in the Broadway original and in his Oscar-winning recreation of the role for Hollywood, Garrison elevates the role of the Emcee to a major role. (Indeed, Grey headlined a Broadway and touring revival that delighted Seattle fans - one of many misguided distortions of the original show.) One of the least-remembered theater trivia aspects of the legendary, original Broadway production is that no actress playing Sally Bowles got rave reviews. Good reviews, yes, but raves & no. All young women singing Sally during the show's five-year run were held up to the fondly remembered, Tony-winning performance of the young Julie Harris in the then-recent straight theatrical version, I Am A Camera. That icongraphic performance would never be matched until Liza Minnelli was cast in the Hollywood, highly revised musical edition that made Cabaret a household title. (And turned the biting, angry title song into an anthem for high school and college marching band - talk about irony....) The 5th Avenue's Cabaret is a co-production with musical theaters in San Jose and St. Paul. While most of the cast is Seattle-based, the leading lady, Tari Kelly, is imported from New York. While Kelly is fine in the role, giving a solid performance, she does not command the stage; she does not illuminate the role from within. But, no matter. The show and Sally's songs and Sally's scenes are almost impossible not to play correctly. She's fine and charms the audience throughout the evening. Illustrating Seattle's wealth of theatrical talent, Suzy Hunt is wonderful as the landlady who ekes out a living renting rooms to questionable clients. Allen Fitzpatrick is equally charming as the Jewish fruit merchant who hopes for love late in life with the landlady. Louis Hobson, a 5th Avenue Theatre leading man in many musicals, is solid as Cliff, the "straight" stand-in for openly Gay author Christopher Isherwood whose autobiographical Berlin Stories evolved into I Am A Camera (alas, now nearly forgotten and clearly in need of a major theatrical revival) that, in turn, became Cabaret. Like the original Broadway production, the 5th acknowledges the multiple leading characters, listing three actors above the title here while Broadway listed many more. Almost all the supporting characters are Seattle-based professionals. All are wonderful. Angie Louise, one of this reviewer's local favorites, is sensational in the minor role of Fraulein Kost, one of many Cabaret ladies of the night "who rented by the hour." Local fans of the talented Louise had no trouble seeing the possible Sally Bowles behind the scenes - the New York import was fine but many feel Angie Louise has the headlining role in another Cabaret in her future. Ian Eisendrath, the 5th's Resident Musical Director, keeps the action flowing, the songs coming, the entertainment at a frantic and frenetic pace. Once the decision was made to play up the glitz, play down the grit, his Cabaret zipped along with a never-stopping energy. A great production, a highly entertaining production. It continues with five more performances through Sunday night. Local "insiders" insist that the production is a total sell-out. Not so. "Good seating" is available for all performances, according to a charming box office woman who had no idea she would be quoted. Tickets and information at (206) 625-1900 or, toll free for out-of-town patrons, at (888) 584-4849. After closing, the full production moves to St. Paul for a May 2-18 run.

Chicago-themed event to benefit Seattle Men's and Women's Choruses

CHICAGO - SMC/SWC'S ANNUAL DINNER, DANCE & AUCTION APRIL 19 WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION CENTER Eating. Drinking. Dancing. Bidding & and "All That Jazz!" Flying House Productions is revved up to give Chorus supporters the ol' "Razzle Dazzle" at this year's Chicago-themed Annual Dinner Dance & Auction. The extraordinary evening includes plenty of music, costumes, a stunning stage design, and a collection of auction items you won't see anywhere else. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. on April 19 in the Washington State Convention Center Skybridge and all proceeds benefit the Seattle's Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus. If you've never been to a speakeasy before, now is your chance. Dance with a flapper. Have a drink with a gangster. The auction draws an estimated 1000 people, it's the single biggest source of funding for the Choruses, and it's expected to contribute over $700,000 to the organization's operating budget. Christine Chen (KCTS About the Money) and Elisa Jaffe (KOMO 4 News) will serve as the auction hosts. Distinguished auctioneers Kip Toner and Mardi Newman will coordinate the bidding activities. The Choruses are comprised of many of Seattle's most talented and creative individuals. With artists, esigners, cheft, and dozens of well-connected movers and shakers in the mix, the donated auction items members have helped secure will not disappoint. These spectacular, one-of-a-kind itema cannot be found anywhere else - for any price. Auction items include: A week in Chicago, including tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show; dinner at El Gaucho's grand opening in Bellevue; a private yacht trip to Alaska; and a European vacation with Rick Steves as your tour guide! In addition to helping fund Chorus concerts (ticket sales account for less than half of the annual budget), the auction funds the Choruses' many other programs, including the Youth Ticket Program, which provides free admission to self-identified Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered youth; the Free Ticket Program for people living with HIV and AIDS and their caregivers; and concerts outside the Seattle area that benefit local GLBT and AIDS support organizations. Tickets start at $145. Reservations and donations can be made at http://flyinghouse.org/specialevents/auctionticket.asp. A Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus press release