Author Archives: Jennifer Ta

“Cabaret”
The MET Theatre
Through May 22

The Kit Kat Klub offers everyone the chance to leave their troubles behind for the seedy world of “Cabaret.” Problem is, “Cabaret” itself isn’t problem-free but with characters knee-deep in their own emotional turmoil.

“Cabaret” is a musical revolving around Englishwoman Sally Bowles (played by Caitlin Ary) who works in Berlin’s provocative Kit Kat Klub. She meets and eventually falls in love with a struggling American writer Cliff Bradshaw (played by Rory Alexander). Interspersed between the pair’s courtship scenes are the Kit Kat Klub’s musical numbers and scenes showing the rise of the Nazi Party.

Sitting in the middle of the small stage is a big paper heart on wheels. It may be a simple stage prop, but the heart represents the much more complicated concept of love.

“Play Dates” hilariously explores the trials of love starting with the innocent love story between two kindergarteners, Stacey (played by Elizabeth Bond) and Sam (played by Rob Nagle). The story soon transitions to the grown-up Sam who becomes Dr. Love, who dispenses love advice to those in need despite having some personal problems himself. Finally, the play switches gears and focuses on a married couple trying to spice things up.

Bond and Nagle are the highlight of the show. The comedic duo brings in the laughs as they play off each other with ease. Each actor is spot on with their comedic timing. Whether they are arguing about how many boys Stacey napped with or running around on stage in superhero costumes, the actors aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves.

Love, lies and sex: three things that seem to make or break a relationship. Yet, behind it all, it’s really people who create their own happiness as well as their own heartache with the choices they make.

“Closer” examines this idea in depth with the intertwining relationships of four characters, Anna, Dan, Alice and Larry. The play begins with an obituary writer Dan (played by Matthew Oliva) flirting with Alice (played by Fabianne Therese) in a hospital waiting room as they wait for a doctor to attend to Alice’s leg wound. Fast-forward two years later, and Dan tries to begin a relationship with photographer Anna (played by Stefanie Anne Chapman) despite still being involved with Alice.

Much of this play is driven by its story and by the actors themselves. To put the spotlight on the performers, the play’s props are sparse. Few furniture decorate the stage, and only the bare essentials such as chairs, a camera and champagne glasses, are given to the actors to use. Without any real material distractions, the audience attention is forced to focus solely on the actors and the emotions they play out on stage.