Cabaret (1993) - The Musical with Alan Cumming, Jane Horrocks, and Adam Godley

My favourite musical of all time. I watch the recording multiple times every year. This is my favourite cast, every single character is just absolutely perfect. No other cast is as brilliant as this one, in my opinion.

I watched this completely blind. I didn't know what it was about at all. God, what a great idea that was. I'm so glad I was able to experience this completely by surprise. I'm going to write a whole ass essay for this review, this musical deserves this and more.

It opens with Emcee (Alan Cumming) drawing the audience in with just their hand. What a great visual. The opening song is shocking, raunchy, and entertaining. I can't express how much I love Wilkommen. I love the lyrics, I love the way the characters play off of each other, I love how the orchestra, and I love Alan's voice. Emcee is such a titillating character. God, I could watch his movements forever. 

Cliff Bradshaw (Adam Godley) was really good as the musical's main character. He sets a nice balance as he isn't as larger-than-life as the other characters in this play. However, that isn't to say that he's boring or bland. He was an interesting character with emotions that moved anyone watching.

Sally Bowles (Jane Horrocks) is the love of my life! She's so whimsical and darling. Jane did a wonderful job bringing her to life. Her voice! So strong, so brash, so charming. Who wouldn't fall in love with her? 

My heart aches for Herr Schultz (George Raistrick) and Fraulein Schneider (Sara Kestelman). They knocked their roles out of the park. The first time you meet them, you fall in love right away. They had such lovely personalities and voices that just felt so intimate and real. God, I love them. Their songs specifically are the ones that feel off to me when performed by anyone else. George and Sara are the best performers for these 2 roles! The love they portray onstage feels so real and heartfelt. I wish things could have worked out for their characters, but if everything went well I don't think I would've cared about this musical as much as I do.

Everyone's lives devolve into this huge mess, their loves and joys uprooted by the rise of the Nazi power. I find it insane how Emcee acted as a red herring. Every time the musical started inching into its darker themes, Emcee appeared right away to perform another silly song. However, by the end of each song, you would soon realize they weren't jokes at all. They were heartbreaking in their own right. The false joy Emcee brought the audience just emphasized the play's message, which was the impact of political apathy and complacency in the face of rising extremism.

The reveal of the Nazi power being present in the musical was a genuine shock to me. When Ernst Ludwig (Michael Gardiner) showed his swastika armband at Schultz and Schneider's wedding, I gasped in real life. My jaw stayed open during the whole scene. And the singing of the Nazi propaganda afterwards was salt in the wound. Brilliantly done.

I need everyone in the world to watch this! You won't regret it