Search - John Kander, Fred Ebb, Wayne Sleep :: Cabaret (1986 London Cast)

Perfectly Marvelous!

Michael A. Wank | Tiffin, OH | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just this evening, I got this CD in the mail. Immediately, I slipped it into my CD player, and I was VERY pleased with what what I heard!

Let's start with the main characters. I have loved Wayne Sleep since I first heard him in CATS as a very sweet Mr. Mistoffelees. This recording perfectly displays his ability to swing from two completely different spectrums of role... from an innocent little kitten magician to a bisexual beast of a man, but nevertheless endearing entertainer. His renditions of "Wilkommen", "Money" and, especially "Two Ladies" ooze with spritely panache.

Kelly Hunter is brilliant as the hoplessly romantic singer Sally Bowles. When I originally heard her, I thought that her voice was too formal for Sally, who shouldn't be very talented. Take, for example, the other extreme, Natasha Richardson. A marvelous actress, but a dismal singer. But, I soon grew to allow Kelly to replace the radiant Jill Haworth as the best Sally Bowles. She portrays Sally as a drunken, giddy darling that one can't help love and pity at the same time. She displays her voice perfectly, particularly in "Don't Tell Mama", "Maybe This Time", and her GORGEOUS version of "Cabaret". A perfect role for her.

I must say that I do not really like Peter Land. His voice is rather operatic and overdone, and his accent is pitiful. Vivienne Martin is a very good Fraulein Schneider, but not on par with the groundbreaking Lotte Lenye. Oscar Quitak is okay, but I never really favored any Herr Schultz.

But I must say that I despise Grazina Frame and Rodney Cottam as Fraulein Kost and Ernst Ludwig. Their duet in "Tomorrow Belongs To Me", a lovely song, reminds me of two singing hippos. Absolutely horrible. I never liked Michelle Pawk, but she is WONDERFUL compared to Grazina, who also sounds like a man.

The ensemble is very entertaining, and the Kit Kat girls are shrill, brassy, and divine. Coroline O'Connor and Caroline Clare are hilarious in "Two Ladies".

This CD, overall, is wonderful and a grand buy. I also strongly reccomend the Original and New Broadway casts, as each has each own's gem to offer."