Cabaret Reviews

Ann Crowhurst from Leatherhead, Surrey

STILL PREFER FILM INTERPRETATION

Probably the result of having seen the Bob Fosse film at an impressionable age, but still prefer that interpretation. Love the set and stage, terrific atmosphere but for me the first half failed to set the context and wouldn't have understood juxtaposition between the gaiety within and the ominous developments outside the club without the film version having highlighted the subject matter from the outset.

Miss Rehashed from London, England

CAST WERE AMAZING.

The immersive experience helped set the atmospheric '30's feel.Dancers were absolutely amazing as were the orchestra (both beautiful) The big numbers were very well staged too.There was almost too much to take in. I had issues with feeling very much an inconvience as a solo theatre goer.I kept having to constantly ask where the seats actaully were due in part to the lack of signage.The person sitting next to me was drunk and so unpleasant I left at the interval.

Ellis from London, England

PARTIAL SUCCESS

The first act is strong. It doesn't work all the time, especially in the second act, when the vocals turn to howling and the cheese goes up. The directorial choices made are a bit of a question mark, seeing that this is a play about Naziism. The societal shift, central to the idea of the entire work, doesn't quite have the gravitas it needs. The underlying darkness is missing, it should be a snarl, but instead the heavy-handed production goes for a scream. I wish they hadn't dumbed down the subject matter.

Judy Kupferman from London, England

A BIT LONG, BUT THE AUDIENCE HAS FUN AND END IS STRIKING

The first act is a bit too long - the cabaret acts are repeated after we've got the idea. Vivien Parry as Fraulein Schneider (a secondary role) is absolutely spectacular. The others are ok but they ought to have been lighthearted and gay at the beginning, and they all seem a bit grim and upset right from the start, so the ending is less strong that it could have been. But you get drinks at the beginning, the atmosphere is fun, everybody enjoyed it.

Chris Eyre from London, England

OVERRATED

I have seen more than one Cabaret, including some non-professional and this is by far not the best. I expected more 'intimacy' and excitement 'in the round' but it tended to diffuse the intensity. Choreography harder 'in the round' too. The pre-show and glitzing up the venue (including a circuitous route in), was a tad banal, but great if you'd never seen it before - but I have. Having said that, some great performances.

Graham from London, England

GOOD IN PARTS

First the good, the theatre tries very hard to entertain from the moment you enter with side shows. On the other hand, I don't understand why were were asked to arrive so early (75 minutes before curtain) to see this, I would have preferred to eat. Second, the actual theatre interior and seating in the round is very good with a good lighting rig and orchestra in the boxes. However, the whole toilet arrangement is terrible with queues running up three flights of stairs at interval. This needs to be fixed. The show was a bit disappointing, almost all songs were shouted rather than sung, lack of finesse in delivery, the main male character Bradshaw played by Omar was wooden and unbelievable, the female lead Amy Lennox too shouty, seemed too one dimensional. Landlady also shouty. Worst thing was the wardrobe, the clothes seemed like Andy Pandy's washing line instead of Burlesque and destroyed any period feel.

D A Allan from London, England

DECENT ENOUGH BUT MAINLY HYPE.

It is very much Musical Theatre rather than musical or theatre. Someone actually did jazz hands at one point. The 'Kit Kat' theme doesn't really work unless you like fake theme parks. It holds zero atmosphere and does nothing to improve the show. The pre-show performances are mostly ignored and at times irritating. Overall a workable show but some of the cast were poor and seemed to have only one expression or movement which they used repeatedly. The costume decisions were more Strictly than original, why were the dancers in their dressing gowns when they are supposed to be on stage??, and basically it is the Strictly audience this is aiming for. Overhyped yes, competent yes, fabulous no, but maybe better if you've had some very expensive drinks first.

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