A great cast, wonderful harmony and the high-energy of Berlin in the1930s are what make the Gilbert & Sullivan Society?s ?Cabaret? an excellent production.

The Kit Kat Club girls and emcee Keith Madeiros clearly enjoyed playing their parts as the naughty-nice girls and boy.

Mr. Madeiros welcomed the audience with:?Madames et monsieurs, ladies und gentleman, leave your troubles at the door.? And that?s pretty much what Thursday?s opening night?s audience did ? three hours jam-packed with song and dance provided a night of escapist entertainment.

Mr. Madeiros lounged about the stage in feline fashion as he sang, showed up in other?s scenes and generally behaved in a nasty manner.

The Kit Kat Club was a place where all were welcome and no matter which team you batted for you could play along.

Cleo Petit?s set provided an effective variety of levels with the scrim and the band in the rear, which allowed viewers to catch a glimpse of them in their 1930s outfits that were designed by costume designer Kristin Onions. All of the outfits were in period dress and they took you back to the days of the push-in clubs.

Musical director Martin Lowe succeeded in drawing in the crowds with musical perfection and certainty. As the cast sang, danced or spoke, the music either slid in when it was needed or was bold and boisterous for more lively numbers.

The band was great, with some musicians playing multiple instruments throughout the production.

Director Brian Kite took a hard working cast, a capable crew, choreographers and others to levels that I had not see in Bermuda until now.

Rebecca Faulkenberry (Sally Bowles) stole the show with the song ?Life is a Cabaret?. It showed the strength of her voice and her stage appeal. The Gin drinking girl was brilliant as the nonchalant lover of many and of Clifford Bradshaw (Graeme Henderson) who was very aware of everything happening in Germany at the time. He played his part very well from the start of the play to the end.

Fraulein Schneider in her role as the elder spinster was great, she showed remarkable talent with her style as, not only the landlord, but also as the secret lover of Herr Schultz. It was interesting to see Kelvin Hastings Smith (Herr Schultz) in a different character, who although funny was also a very old German Jew looking for love. Burton Mazzone, whose accent and voice was great, played the unsuspectingly wicked Ernst Ludwig. Ingrid Pucci (Fraulein Kost) played an excellent call girl, who was always seeking a new ?opportunity?.

My suggestion is that if you only intend going to the theatre once this year, ?Cabaret? is the show you should see for a night of naughty, laughter, seriousness and fun.

@EDITRULE: