Theatre man Paul Phear gives his take on Will Young starring in new West End show Cabaret
Paul says...
The first thing you’ll want to know about this Cabaret revival is how does Will Young fair as the Emcee? I’m very happy to report that he is terrific. Barely recognisable in his white face make up and leering out at the Savoy theatre audience it took a few seconds for most people to realise it was him. He relishes the role, with its outrageous costume (corsets and lederhosen!) and some sharply witty songs. Several of his scenes in the Kit Kat Kabaret looked to me like some of his elaborately staged music videos. It probably goes without saying, but I am going to say it, he sings like a dream.
It’s the numbers in the Kit Kat club where this show comes to life, and the sight of a grossly inflated Will Young rushing and dribbling through Money Makes the World Go Round is hard to forget. Michelle Ryan plays Sally Bowles, the headline artist of the club, who has title song and potential showstopper Maybe This Time. She seems remote from the sordid life that’s being played out all around her, and I found it hard to find any empathy in her one dimensional interpretation.
Set in the decadent Berlin cabaret scene of the early 1930’s and based on the real characters written about by Christopher Isherwood, Cabaret records the rise of Nazism and the dangers of an entirely hedonistic lifestyle. Perhaps not everyone’s first choice for a musical theme, and you won’t leave on a high after the devastating final scene. There is plenty to enjoy along the way. A very stylish set, some daring choreography and all the supporting actors are top quality, especially Sian Phillips as landlady Fraulein Schneider.
But it’s Will Young’s multi layered performance you’ll remember most from this revival, catch him while you can. Booking until January 19th.
