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Bowled over by cult show

1/10/2008

AS far as iconic musical images go, Liza Minnelli in Cabaret is up there with the best of them.

Writhing sexily around on a chair to Mein Herr, with trademark bobbed hair, fishnets and bowler hat, the actress’s performance reflects perfectly the style and choreography of song and dance auteur Bob Fosse, who directed the movie.

The role of washed-up club singer Sally Bowles won Minnelli a Best Actress Oscar and a place in showbiz history.

The 1972 classic film, which also starred Michael York and Joel Grey (who nabbed an Oscar for his role as the slightly sinister Emcee) was in turn an adaptation of a 1966 Broadway musical.

The story centres on seedy Berlin nightspot The Kit Kat Club in the days leading up to the Nazis taking power.

Its extraordinary and morally ambiguous inhabitants are determined to keep up appearances as the real world prepares for the nightmarish chaos of war.

The show, whose music and lyrics were written by Fred Ebb and John Kander (the duo behind Chicago), features some classic songs like Willkommen, Money Money and (Life is a) Cabaret.

There have been numerous revivals of the show over the years – the most recent being Bill Kenwright’s production, directed by Rufus Norris. It recently closed in London and is now on the road, stopping at Manchester’s Palace Theatre next week.

Taking the coveted role of Sally, following in the high-kicks of actresses Judi Dench, Natasha Richardson and, most recently, Amy Nuttall, is 19-year-old Samantha Barks.

She will be familiar to viewers of the recent BBC TV talent show I’d do Anything, in which she got down to the last three in the hunt for a Nancy in Cameron Macintosh’s new production of Oliver!, and now looks set to put in a sizzling performance as Sally.

She said: "Cabaret is one of my favourite shows ever and Sally Bowles is such a great part to play.

"Having met Liza Minnelli during the filming of I’d Do Anything, I’m beside myself with excitement."

Theatre veteran Wayne Sleep is the Emcee, a role he first played on the West End in an Eighties revival of Cabaret.

- Cabaret, starring Samantha Barks and Wayne Sleep, runs at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, from Monday, October 6 to Saturday, October 11. For tickets ring the box office on 0870 401 3000

or book online at www.manchesterpalace.org.uk .