DRAMA alcohol, she lives a life of great highs and great lows. Kate convincingly captured and sustained the gamut of emotions and moods felt by this multi-faceted character. Hers was a fine individual performance in this demanding role. Oliver Marlow as the German who befriends Sally made an excellent foil for Kate. Whereas she is all passion and emotion, he is a character whose heart is ruled by his head. A pragmatic opportunist running dodgy errands for the Nazis, he surprises himself by discovering that his love for a Jewess — admirably played by the talented Fiona Watt — is in danger of overriding his instinct for self-preservation. This dilemma leaves him uncharacteristically at a loss. Oliver gave an accomplished performance which succeeded in conveying bom his chirpy cockiness and latent vulnerability. A bemused and bewildered observer of all this is the Christopher Isherwood figure, played by Stephen Whalley. A good egg with a reserved nature and uncertainty about his sexual orientation, he offers to marry Sally when he discovers that she is pregnant. When she has an abortion he is distraught and returns home a sadder but wiser man. Stephen gave a splendidly understated performance as a good public school chap. The leading characters received solid support from Lucy Seed as the long-suffering landlady and Brian McBride as the ticket-inspector — a very promising debut on the St. Peter's stage. The show was held together by me capable hands of the Master of Ceremonies Michael Dowds, who skilfully bridged the gap between the dramatic and musical aspects of the show. More than anyone else in the show Michael had to act, sing and move with equal aplomb, a feat which he achieved with considerable presence. It would be invidious to pick out individual singers or musicians because the success of the show lay in the fact that this was essentially a team performance. Nowhere was this more evident man in the rousing rendition of "Tomorrow belongs to me", which closed the first act. There were nonetheless opportunities for some fine virtuoso performances, notably from the "two ladies". The Musical Director David Spencer deserves great credit for the slickness and gusto of the musical numbers, played with great enthusiasm and verve by Christopher Blood and his band. The success of the show also owed much to hard work behind the scenes from the stage and lighting crew, not forgetting the design team led by Chris Hall, who did a marvellous job in transforming the Memorial Hall into a seedy and tacky Berlin nightclub (it was half-way there already). But above all the plaudits should go to our Head of Drama, the indefatigable Ian Lowe, ably assisted by Dick Hubbard. Darlings, you were wonderful. D. S. Newman
CABARET
Cabaret? As a school play? A hubbub of anticipation greeted the news of Ian Lowe's choice for this year's production. Would the cast be able to pull it off? They certainly did, and the choice proved to be inspired. The show provided an excellent showcase for a range of acting and musical talent, not to mention the visual impact of the magnificent costumes. Above all, it was fun: the performance was hugely enjoyed by cast and audience alike, warming our hearts on a cold December night. And, in the words of the late Kenny Everett, it was all done in the best possible taste. But amid the laughter and joy we did not lose sight of the serious, even tragic, aspects of the story. Set against the backdrop of pre-war Berlin — turbulent, unstable, yet dynamic and vibrant — it presents us with some extraordinary characters, or to be more accurate, characters who behave extraordinarily because of the tide of events that has swept mem up. Uncertain of what tomorrow might bring, they live for the moment and on their own terms, shunning traditional mores and conventions. Their philosophy is summed up in the song "Who cares? So what?". Our attention is focused on Sally (Kate Dowds) — young, talented, rebellious, streetwise, but at the same time a mixed-up little girl lost. Living a long way from home on a heady cocktail of adrenalin, hormones and 23