From Joy to Tears

I didn’t really know what to expect from the musical Cabaret playing at Sunderland Empire.
I was aware that it was set in 1931; a time of decadence and rise of Nazism in Germany, plus I knew a couple of songs. Right from the start, The ‘Emcee’ who runs the ‘Kit Kat’ Club in Berlin attracts your attention with his costume and humour. The dancers also wore ‘interesting’ costumes which allowed them to perform quite stunning leaps during their routines. Luckily, they kept their clothes on for these; yes, there is some nudity in the show but it’s not distracting. The songs were good and well performed by but the vocalists and the orchestra. The basic story is concerned with the showgirl Sally Bowles’ career and love life. This, I thought this story line was too predictable and became a bit tedious for me. The background story of Nazism and their effect on others was more interesting. So, basically I was having a pleasant time until the shocking final scene; naked people in concentration camp showers. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. A musical I won’t forget!