The spring musical production of Cabaret played Friday and Saturday nights in the Norris Family Theater. The show is a triumph for an extended team of actors, tech crew, lighting and sound support.

Set in Berlin in 1929-30, the play traces the relationships of two couples against the backdrop of the seedy Kit Kat Klub and the growing popularity of the Nazis. The dazzling, sordid, sexy shows at the night club reflect the decadence of Weimar Germany between the world wars.

The cast includes lots of talent "new" to the Proctor stage, mixed with seasoned veterans. Joey Goulart, as the naughty emcee of the cabaret, is simply outrageous.

Into this setting comes an innocent, optimistic American writer, Cliff Bradshaw (Jaguar Sasmito), who falls for Sally Bowles (Kelsey Hughes), a singer/dancer who becomes pregnant--again. Their relationship is mirrored by that of aging Frauline Scheider (Lindsay Webster) and Jewish fruit vendor Herr Schultz (Canon Brownell). Their old-world sensibilities fail in the face of rising Nazism.

The show takes us from a spectacular opening to increasingly dark realities that echo recent projects from World History classes: Can an individual stand up to social oppression?

The high kicks of the cabaret's chorus line morph into the bootsteps of advancing evil.

This show is funny, outrageous and tragic, and it is delivered with uncompromising focus and skill by the entire team.