By Henry Nickerson | Public Relations Coordinator
After the mid-semester departure of Salve Theatre Department’s former chair Reggie Phoenix, a challenging show such as Cabaret must have seemed a daunting hurtle to overcome for the leaderless department. However, adjunct director Tom Gleadow proved a wonderful successor to Phoenix. Stunning and powerful, Cabaret was a gamble well-taken for the expanding department.
The Friday night performance which I attended was more packed than I had ever seen the Casino Theatre, and drinks flowed as audience members took their seats. The set was dark save for an unlit Kit-Kat Klub sign hanging above centerstage. As the house lights fell, the band took the stage; some members cross-dressing in theme.
The musical’s first number “Wilkommen” began the show with a bang. Emcee, portrayed by senior Kenny Bennel, along with the Kit-Kat dancers introduced the audience to the gallivant night life of pre-World War II Berlin. The focal love story is the relationship between Sally Bowles and Clifford Bradshaw, played by junior Madisyn Mugavero and senior Nate Flachs respectively. Cabaret follows Sally and Clifford as they navigate their relationship through social and political strife.
A series of individual performances stood out during the production. First and foremost, Madisyn Mugavero’s powerhouse voice informed some of the most exciting and heartbreaking moments of the musical. Mugavero’s performance of “Maybe This Time” was passionate and erupting. Kenny Bennel rounded out his Salve career with perhaps his most fitting performance; Bennel’s enthusiasm and charisma consistently carried the show to new heights. Sophomore Daniel Landino’s portrayal of Ernst Ludwig was both charming and detestable (in the best way). The charming yet manipulative nature with which Landino portrayed Ludwig made for incredibly tense scenes. The chemistry between Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, played by junior Jillian Tereshka and sophomore Zach Bailey respectively, was delightful. Tereshka disappeared into her character, excelling in both comedic and dramatic scenes. Zach Bailey charmed audiences with his charisma and timing; Bailey’s raw vocal chops mixed beautifully with Tereshka’s bright delivery.
The Kit-Kat dancers wowed audiences with spectacular dance numbers. For a show known for it’s challenging choreography, the Kit-Kat dancers excelled in performances of “Money” and “Wolkommen”.
Kit- Kat Boys and Girls include:
Freshman Nina Beatrice,
Sophomores Bradley Simpson, Jillian Brooks-Duval, and Julia Curtin,
Juniors Vanessa Sciolto, Kathryn Coppa, and Morgan Salpietro,
Senior Colin Travassos.
Notable performances include Brooks-Duval’s gorilla ballet and Sciolto’s dancing despite a leg injury.
Cabaret came up short on very few fronts; the primary concern being inconsistent accents. Some actors switched between German and British, while some found a vague middle ground between French-German-British; such mistakes come with maturing actors. Audio engineering fell short, with some actor’s microphones sounding muffled or cracking. However, many of the imperfections that brought the audience out of Berlin were errors that could have been avoided with better equipment. Salve’s maturing theatre department demands more attention and money, and this production was proof of that.
Directorial choices by Gleadow left powerful impressions, such as the lowering of swastika flags during intermission. Crowds were engaged and entertained throughout, and Salve’s theatre department continued to exceed expectations as it did with its production of Elephant Man in the Fall.
It will certainly be exciting to see what future leadership will bring to the department and if they will build on the milestone year.
