SASKATOONEXPRESS - October 26 - November 1, 2015 - Page 1
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1702 8th St. & Louise | 3330 8th St. E. | 705 22nd St. W. | 1204 Central Ave. | 802 Circle Dr. E. | 519 Nelson Road. Volume 12, Issue 43, Week of October 26, 2015
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Summer Players presentation dark and edgy Juan Carlos Mendoza plays the iconic emcee role in Cabaret (Photo Supplied) Joanne Paulson Saskatoon Express illkommen, bienvenue, welcome... to the darker, edgier, sexier side of Broadway. Cabaret, the Nazi-era musical about decadent 1930s Berlin, begins with its rather famous three-language greeting at Saskatoon’s Broadway Theatre Nov. 6 to Nov. 10. It might be a good idea to make it an adult outing. Saskatoon Summer Players is adapting the Tony-winning Alan Cumming stage revival version, which is more decadent and erotic than the movie, says director Ricardo Alvarado.
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“It’s a lot more sensualized, and a lot darker,” said Alvarado. Not PG, then? “No. I would say not for the children.” Cabaret largely takes place in the creepyerotic Kit Kat Klub, as it follows the relationship of the club’s star attraction, Sally Bowles, and visiting American writer Cliff Bradshaw. The action takes place against a backdrop of rising tension as the Nazi regime begins to take hold. It is not entirely easy to stage, and requires a fair amount of interpretation on the part of the director — particularly around the character of the emcee. The role was made famous by Joel Grey in the movie, and more recently by Cumming on the stage.
“He’s just always there,” said Alvarado, who asked himself, in any given scene, “is he a ghost, is he God, or is he the puppeteer, or is he the storyteller, or is he the person whose story is being told? So, in every scene we play with what we think he is (in) that scene, and that gives the colour to what he comes out to do.” Entrusted with the iconic emcee role is Juan Carlos Mendoza. “He brings this really raw masculinity, but at the same time (he’s) super-ready to be flexible into that kind of asexuality that Alan Cumming brings to the role,” said Alvarado. “It flip-flops back and forth, which is really awesome.”
The emcee’s androgeny is an ongoing theme throughout the show, appearing as it does among all the Kit Kat Klub dancing girls, and with the Cliff Bradshaw character as he develops his sexuality throughout the show. Bradshaw is played by Bobby Williston, and Sally Bowles is portrayed by Kelsey Stone, who played Maureen in Summer Players’ Rent and is a dance teacher at La Danse. “She has an amazing voice; she’s an amazing dancer. She literally gives me tingles when we get to her songs. I think she’s perfect,” said Alvarado. (Continued on page 6)