Dark nights and darker reminders in Guthrie’s ‘Cabaret’

Opening night at the Guthrie Theater felt like Minneapolis’ hottest VIP event. Local celebrities mingled under chandeliers, showing off avant-garde outfits – think flapper fringe meets modern edge. Upstairs, the pop-up Kit Kat Bar poured playful cocktails and mocktails: the rye-rich “Berlin Is the New Manhattan” and the cheeky “Don’t Tell Mama” martini. Patrons sipped and chatted as anticipation built, setting the perfect mood for what was to come.

Running through Aug. 24, “Cabaret” is the Guthrie’s bold new staging of the iconic 1966 musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff. Based on the play “I Am a Camera” by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, the musical is set in 1930s Berlin and follows aspiring American novelist Clifford Bradshaw and British nightclub singer Sally Bowles as they navigate romance, ambition and political upheaval. Inside the Kit Kat Club, the Emcee invites audiences into a world of decadent escape — even as the Nazi regime tightens its grip outside.

When the curtain rose, the Emcee – portrayed by Jo Lampert – immediately stole the show. Sequins caught every shaft of light as Lampert delivered “Willkommen” with Lady Gaga-level flair. One moment you were laughing at witty asides; the next, a hush fell as that piercing gaze swept the audience. Lampert’s magnetic energy never let up.

Mary Kate Moore was a dazzling Sally Bowles. In Act I, her flirtatious chair dance and breathy vocals had the crowd grinning ear to ear. By Act II, Moore revealed Sally’s cracks – her soaring, desperate “Cabaret” left many holding their breath. You rooted for her, even as her world unraveled.

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The six Kit Kat dancers brought edge and elegance in equal measure. Under Casey Sams’ choreography and in Jen Caprio’s period costumes, they moved like living art. One standout performer – nicknamed “Texas” – radiated All-American charm, winking through each sultry kick. Their tight, jazz-club routines transport you straight to Weimar-era Berlin.

Midway through, everything changed. A single red spotlight cut through the darkness, and a stark Nazi emblem suddenly appeared center stage. The playful energy evaporated in an instant. What had felt like carefree partying turned into a tense reckoning with history – one that, given today’s climate, hits uncomfortably close to home.

When the final note faded, the audience sat stunned – then rose in a roar of applause. This Guthrie production of “Cabaret” delivers both dazzle and depth. It seduces with song and style, then asks you to confront the shadows lurking behind the glitter. Few shows balance sparkle and seriousness so well.

If you’re ready for an evening that’s equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking, this is your ticket to the Kit Kat Klub. Just remember: once you step inside, it stays with you long after you leave.

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Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Rachel’s Reviews, where Rachel Engstrom, a contributor to Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN), reviews various aspects of Eden Prairie and beyond. Do you have ideas for reviews? Reach out to Rachel Engstrom at rachel.engstrom@eplocalnews.org.