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Life is a cabaret: Wayne Sleep stars in the tale of debauchery in Berlin
Cabaret
Hippodrome
until November 28
By Suzi Dixon
Pouring over the Cabaret programme before curtain up, my friend and I noted it was a Bill Kenwright production. Well, we decided. Of course it will be good.
Managing Director Bill, the brains behind recent hits including Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Savoy, not to mention the Tony-award winning Dolls House on Broadway, can turn his hand to pretty much any show and bring about something wonderful.
My dear: Siobhan Dillon was outlandish and effervescent
And with Cabaret, the much-loved musical voyage through a town called debauchery, sorry, Berlin, he certainly had the material to back him up.
The Hippodrome production may be a little racy for some tastes but the opening crowd were suitably shocked and titillated in equal measure. From the opening ‘Welcome’ number, the scene was set for a night of naughty fun.
Kenwright’s production excelled in the musical numbers. From limber young things hanging from precarious ladders to high-kicking chaps in leather chaps, the choreography was inventive and exciting.
What a shame, then, that the quieter moments of characterisation were not as exciting.
Siobhan Dillon, best known as runner up in the BBC’s Maria series, was an outlandish and effervescent Sally Bowles. Unfortunately she didn’t really capture the fragilities and humanity of the character but her voice was pitch perfect, nonetheless.
The real star of the night was the irrepressible Wayne Sleep as Emcee. He lit up the stage, exciting the audience with a mere raise of his eyebrow.
Henry Luxemburg as Clifford was fabulous in the musical numbers but, again, didn’t do enough to expose the human frailties and vulnerability of his character for my taste. Still very watchable, though.
All in all, the production, dance numbers and amazing orchestra, under the direction of Tom de Keyser, projected enough heat into the November night to warm the entire BS1. Something wonderful indeed, and certainly unmissable. High kick your way to the Hippodrome box office today, else you’ll be missing out.
For more information:
Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustines Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Tel: 0117 302 3333
www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk
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