'Cabaret' welcomes in Harper's 40th year
In searching for a show to usher in Harper's 40th anniversary, its theater officials looked no further than the musical that won eight Tony Awards in 1967, "Cabaret."
The vibrant show, with its memorable music, all set at the Kit Kat Club in 1929 Berlin, comes to life at 8 p.m. Friday. Its two-weekend run continues through Nov. 18 in Harper College's new Performing Arts Center.
"Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome, im cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret," sings the master of ceremonies to open the show.
While audiences may remember the 1972 movie that starred Liza Minelli and Joel Grey, the stage version is a richer story, Director Laura Pulio Colbert says, with many more layers to uncover.
For starters, the play goes beyond the romance that develops between the American writer, Clifford Bradshaw, played here by Charles Perry of Yorkville; and Sally Bowles, one of the club's performers, played by Stephanie Herman of Roselle.
Much of the plot centers around Herr Schultz, played by John Shepard of Palatine, as the Jewish grocer, who courts a Christian woman, named Fraulein Schneider, and played by Denise Tamburrino of Deerfield, a classically trained operatic soprano.
Their relationship, and their songs, all were written out of the movie version, in favor of the younger romance. However they play a pivotal role here, and underscore the discrimination growing around them.
The club's emcee, performed by Tony Calzaretta of Palatine, remains just as mysterious in the play version as the film, though Colbert says she began to interpret his role differently during the rehearsal process.
"I began to see what he was doing," says Colbert, Harper's theater department director. "He's the drug that numbs everyone to what is happening around them.
"He's a conspirator with the Nazis," she adds, "since he keeps everyone hooked on this fantasy world, while everything going on in the real world happens all around them."
Calzaretta agrees, adding that the part is a meaty one for him since it takes him from his traditional leading man role to something of a bad guy.
"He's the puppetmaster," Calzaretta says. "He knows what's going on out there, but he gets them to stay in there by convincing them that inside all their troubles will be gone."
He points to one of his memorable lines, delivered in the opening scene:
"In here, life is beautiful," Calzaretta as the master of ceremonies, says. "The girls are beautiful. Even the orchestra is beautiful."
"Cabaret" is one of Harper's "community" shows, since it mixes local actors with students in the cast. Colbert estimates that two-thirds of the performers are students, while the remaining third are from outside the college.
"It's a great learning environment," Colbert says, "for students to be working with these seasoned actors. They learn so much from being on stage with them."
If you go
What: Harper College's 40th anniversary production of "Cabaret"
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, with performances continuing at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17, and at 2 p.m. Nov. 18
Where: Harper's Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine
Cost: $15 for general admission, with discounts for Harper students, staff and senior citizens
Call: (847) 925-6100