The high life of the 1920s and '30s will be reborn this weekend in MUSKET's latest production of "Cabaret." Directed by musical theater senior T. Adam Hess, "Cabaret" promises to be a poignant and emotional show. In a recent interview with The Michigan Daily, Hess described the production as "both entertaining and educational, tracing the rising tide of hatred that led to some of the most horrific events in human history."
"Cabaret" takes place in the late 1920s, and it foreshadows the rise of the Nazi regime. The unusually dark musical follows two different couples in their quest to find happiness in a time when there isn't much. Sally Bowles is an English cabaret singer who is in love with an unemployed, American novelist named Cliff Bradshaw. The second couple consists of a German landlady, Fraülein Schneider, and a Jewish fruit seller, Herr Schultz. Fraülein Schneider must face the difficult decision of whether or not to marry Herr Schultz in a time of Nazi repression. Whether it is to raise a child in an unfriendly environment or to marry, all of the characters are faced with unpleasant situations in which they must make difficult decisions.
Because the show deals with the difficult subjects of Nazism and anti-semitism, MUSKET will be hosting post-show discussions in which the audience will be able to talk with the cast and a scholar on the Nazi era. In addition, there will be an exhibition in the Power Center lobby containing photographs of Berlin and the Nazi occupation.
Hess feels this is an important work which deals with a sensitive subject. "(Cabaret paints) a picture and (shows) an accurate description of the horror," he said.
"Cabaret" affected the company as well. Because of such tense themes, rehearsals tended to be draining and very emotional for the cast. At the beginning of production, Hess tried to provide as much information for the troupe as possible. This took the form of showing videos and doing research in order to help the actors understand the issues they were dealing with.
"I'm proud of the way we dealt with the subject matter. It all stems from the fact that everyone took the issues to heart, from both an emotional and educational aspect," Hess said.
Not only was the subject matter difficult for the cast, but other challenges had to be faced. "The characters are from the 1930s, so it's hard to go back in time. Some characters have to wear swastikas and are playing people who support the Nazi party," Hess explained.
The show itself is widely praised, and it has received numerous awards including the New York Drama Critics and Antoinette Perry awards for best musical of 1966, as well as a Tony Award.
The main message Hess hopes to convey to the audience is that "everyone must remember the events of the past." He does not want to offend anyone, though, and he hopes people will take advantage of the post-show discussions. "I want to give people an opportunity to discuss and understand what is going on if they were confused about something," Hess said.
While "Cabaret" may not deal with the most pleasant subject, it should be an emotional evening full of dance, song and perhaps a few tears. "You can't shy away from the issues," Hess said. This is truly an event in history where the saying "those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it" applies. Even though the subject is serious, "Cabaret" promises to be an elaborate and moving show.
Some of the cast members of MUSKET's "Cabaret," which runs this weekend at Power Center.