come through!

In the Alumni Auditorium from November 3rd to November 5th, the Bard Hall Players will be performing Cabaret, a performance set in 1930s Berlin and in a nightclub known as the Kit Kat Club. Bwog Staffer Shina Chetti covers the performance.

Columbia’s very own Bard Hall Players—the foremost theater troupe of our College of Physicians and Surgeons—put on a titillating (yes, in this case, it is the most apt term) production of Cabaret, based on the works of John Van Druten and Christopher Isherwood. Past the table of ample sweets and libations, the auditorium was draped in sable curtains, hacked fabrics, and an imposing three-part framework of doors, the latter being a clever construction of Fräulein Schneider’s residence. High up above the stage looms the large “Kit Kat Club” sign, at the ready for the cut-throughs and dance numbers amidst the seedy nightclub’s dance floor and the even seedier audience.

The Bard Hall Players, directed by Rachel Chung, stayed true to the essence of the play, presenting a devastating and engaging story, abound with moments of comedy and cheek against the sobering backdrop of 1930’s Berlin. Most notable among the musical performances were “So What”, “Tomorrow Belongs to Me”, and of course, “Cabaret.” The play featured an incredible ensemble of dancers and actors alike, with a fabulous main cast to boot. Andrew Garton portrayed a dashing and conflicted Cliff Bradshaw, whilst Kyle McCormick played the part of his love interest and self-proclaimed femme fatale, Sally Bowles. Other notable castmates include Lajari Anne as Fräulein Schneider, Adam Burensky as Herr Schultz, Rhyan Goldman as the exceedingly alluring and ultimately heart-wrenching Emcee, Aaron Kaplan as Ernst Ludwig, and Sean Marinelli as Max, the ever-abrasive owner of the Kit Kat Club.

Cabaret plays for two more days at the Columbia Medical Center’s auditorium, and is a more than worthwhile watch for any entertainment enthusiast or fan of the tried-and-true musical.

image via the Bard Hall Players