Cabaret!

Last night my husband, Gene, and I had the pleasure of seeing Cabaret, directed by Chris Coleman of Portland Center Stage, at the Gerding Theater at the Armory. We loved it! And, we were so pleased to observe how Portland has produced – through Portland Center Stage and the Gerding Theater – such remarkable talent and success with this production and with the theater in general.

Our date began with a quick drink and dinner a The Henry Tavern in the Brewery Blocks. The place was jam-packed and we were lucky to find a table opening up in the bar or we likely would have had a too little time for dinner before the show at 7:30. We observed that the big crowd at Henry’s was a sign of Portland prosperity and the Pearl District’s neighborhood energy! Truth is, any number of places in the Pearl neighborhood near the Gerding Theater that we might have chosen for our dinner would have been busy. The District is always lit up with life and energy and activity. That’s why so many people want to live here.

Off to the theater we went and there we experienced again the intimacy and comfort of the renovated building. Here was a striking example of what we love about Portland. The commitment of Portland people, both businesses and individuals, to do what is right and give back to the community, the culture and the future of our city. Gerding/Edlen Development’s commitment to bringing the old Armory into the modern age while at the same time preserving and protecting it’s historical character is a winning example of that ethic.

Then, there was the show! It was awesome! From the rousing, raucous and racy opening that had us smiling big and feeling the heat – to the tense, tender and unfortunate ending – we were gripped.

Wade McCollum, playing the emcee, is extra-ordinary! He is the part he plays, the stimulating, seductive and provocative “ground” for the audience, and the “tease” for Sally Bowles, who is swept up in the push-pull relationships of living for the moment or living for the future. Ultimately, Sally (played by the larger-than-life Storm Large!) is compelled to live in the now, but her tug within is packed with tense energy and excitement and leveled back to her (and us) with hard, cold reality. The show is dramatic, entertaining and real at the same time.

We were totally engaged and entertained. I recommend it!

Becky

November 7, 2007 · Filed Under Places We Recommend

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