Cabaret, Theatre Royal, Newcastle (From The Northern Echo)

Cabaret, Theatre Royal, Newcastle

11:09am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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WITH its tap-dancing Nazis and raunchy rhythms, Cabaret has been a hit across the world since premiering on Broadway more than 40 years ago.

The musical, with lyrics by Fred Ebb, music by John Kander and book by Joe Masteroff, charts the lives of a group of misfits, failures and outcasts thrown together in Thirties Berlin – a city willingly or unwillingly ignorant of the growth of Nazism, hoping the wild parties of the Kit Kat Club will never end.

Enter Yankee Clifford Bradshaw (Henry Luxemburg), who aspires to be a great author but is easily distracted by the decadent temptations of his new home. On his first night in Berlin, Bradshaw meets cabaret singer Sally Bowles (Samantha Barks) and their lives are changed for ever.

Barks, known to fans of TV talent shows as a contestant in the BBC’s I’d Do Anything, is making her professional theatrical debut and carries off the lead role with aplomb.

Much more experienced is Wayne Sleep, who plays the mysterious and often frightening Emcee. Sleep is captivating and fascinating – you can’t take your eyes off him for a moment.

Also worth a mention is Jenny Logan who, as the down-to-earth Fraulein Schneider, turns in a great performance.

If you don’t know the show, leave your morals at the door and prepare to be shocked, from start to very end. Cabaret is an eyebrow-raising night out – in more ways than one, a feast for the senses.

■ Cabaret runs until Saturday.

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