WOS TV: Cabaret Welcomes Medcalf & Blackman

After its two-time success at this year’s Olivier Awards (See News, 18 Feb 2007), Rufus Norris’ West End revival Cabaret had three new reasons to celebrate last night at the Lyric Theatre, where a gala performance was held to welcome Kim Medcalf, Honor Blackman and Francis Matthews to the cast.

Medcalf, Blackman and Matthews have taken over from original cast members Anna Maxwell-Martin, Olivier Award winner Sheila Hancock and Geoffrey Hutchings as, respectively, Sally Bowles, landlady Fraulein Schneider and her Jewish boyfriend Herr Schultz – and they were given a rousing reception by last night’s star-studded audience.

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For Whatsonstage.com TV, we were on hand for the curtain call and post-show party at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Our TV interviewees include: new cast members Kim Medcalf, Honor Blackman and Francis Matthews, Olivier Award-winning choreographer Javier De Frutos, producer Bill Kenwright, and first night guests including Charlie Brooks, Samantha Bond and Charlotte (daughter of Noel) Edmonds.

In the Kander and Ebb classic, Weimar Berlin is a dark and sexually charged haven of decadence, its morally ambiguous inhabitants determined to keep up appearances as the real world - outside the sanctuary of the cabaret - prepares for the chaos of war.

Based on the stories of Christopher Isherwood and the play by John Van Druten, the musical has a book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Cabaret premiered on Broadway on 1966 and in 1972 was made into an Oscar-winning film starring Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles, Michael York as Cliff and Joel Grey as the Emcee.

Norris’ production opened on 10 October 2006 (previews from 23 September) and has just extended its booking period by five months through to 1 March 2008 (See News, 25 Apr 2007). The company also currently features original cast members James Dreyfus (the Emcee), Michael Hayden, Harriet Thorpe and Andrew Maud.

- by Terri Paddock

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