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Cabaret (page 107)
Drams 
Cast Ken Christie (Herr Schultz); James Dickson (Clifford Bradshaw);
Dorothy Johnstone (Fraulein Rost)
John Lally (Ernst Ludwig); Norma Kinnear (Emcee); Doreen McGilivray
(Fraulein Schneider); Gabrielle Pavone (Sally
Bowles)
Musical Director Simon Hanson
Choreographer/Co-Director Jill Cruickshank
Lighting Director Michael Hume
Sound Director Iain McIntosh
Producers Norma and Kenny Kinnear
Director Colin Peter
Venue St Oswald's Hall (Fringe Venue 180)
Address Montpelier Park
Reviewer Jonas Green
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Cabaret
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Tempo aspires to be one of the best of Edinburgh's amateur musical
companies, and they are normally successful. While this is a passable Fringe
production, I feel the company should be judged on their aspirations. The
first-night audience seemed happy enough, but at the interval I was ready to
declare it well below Tempo's usual standard. The second half largely
retrieves things with more drama and some inventive production ideas, but
they do need to sharpen up part one.
One unqualified success throughout is Norma Kinnear
as an unexpected female Emcee, traditionally a very camp male role. It's hard
to tell what gender she's meant to be (shades of the film Victor Victoria)
but she makes it work superbly. Doreen McGillivray
acts to perfection in the older-German-lady part. Gabrielle Pavone as Sally Bowles is not always consistent but she
gives a show-stopping rendition of the title number.
For the rest of the time this production is often struggling against an
unfamiliar venue which makes for clunky scene changes, and an under-produced
first half. At that stage, insufficient dramatic relationship was established
between the domestic scenes - which are cramped by being played on a half set
- and the raunchy goings-on at the Kit-Kat Club, representing the decadence
of pre-war German culture.
The musical side is predictably perfect, the choreography is competent, and
the shock ending works brilliantly. Venue, lighting, and set are good. This
is a potentially a quality show which should improve.
© Jonas Green, 17 August. Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com
Run: 17 - 23 August at 19:40
For more information about Tempo Musical Productions go to www.tempo.org.uk
Copyright © 1998-2004
EdinburghGuide.com. All rights reserved.
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