CABARET  at Studio 54

(Seen April 30, 2014)

In this raucous revival of the last revival of this modern-classic musical, all the characters are there, but it comes across as tired and dated.  Alan Cummings' previous triumphant portrayal of the emcee now seems somewhat pedestrian.  And his rendition of "If You Could See Her" lacks the impact of the underlying meaning of the song.

If the role of Sally Bowles is supposed to be that of a second-rate singer and an amoral prostitute, then Michelle Williams fills the role perfectly, although we're used to seeing superior singers with a slight touch of class in the role.

Bill Heck is a lackluster Clifford Bradshaw, and we care very little about his pivotal character.  That feeling seems to pervade the whole production, despite the particularly good work of Linda Edwards and Danny Burstein.  The large ensemble does provide a spirit and verve in their often-multiple roles.

The music remains a beautiful and effective score.