This year’s Cabaret Troupe: RISE! impressed with the cast’s dynamic vocal solos and intricate choreography. Téa Baum and Rebecca Lev directed the show which ran May 9, 10, and 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater.
Cab Troupe is normally held in the auditorium, but the switch to the Little Theater this year created a deeper connection between singers, dancers, musicians and audience members alike.
“The strength of the cast was that everyone had something a little bit different to bring to the show,” said sophomore Julianna Walsh, a cast member. “Everyone had their own quirks.”
Cab Troupe put an emphasis on originality and uniqueness as each actor wore distinctive clothes and singers had solo performances for full songs. The solo vocal acts were often complimented with background dancers and singers in scene’s like “Michael in the Bathroom” where dancers partied in the background to disco lights or “What The Heck I Gotta Do” when dancers accompanied the main singer by echoing his movements. These background elements enriched the overall quality of the show and added intricacy to the choreography.
“I liked the concept that everyone in the show had their own personal song instead of there being one lead and an ensemble that follows behind them,” Walsh added. “I guess just the individuality of the cast made it special.”
The many solo performances in Cab Troupe did not take away from the cast’s team effort and overall energy throughout the show. “The Black Death,” for example, featured a variety of cast members all singing about how the black death was coming for them. This storyline was set to the backdrop of an ironically upbeat and lively instrumental as actors gleefully danced in unison. The tongue and cheek aspects of the sketch along with the collaboration between the actors made for an amusing and memorable experience
Freshman Antonio Dalton, a cast member, said he liked how supportive the cast members were and “how much effort each and every one of them put into it.”
Musically, Cabaret Troupe was nearly flawless throughout. In the heartfelt performance of “Me and the Sky,” the band was extremely dynamic and supported the emotions portrayed by the singer. Starting with a lonely acoustic guitar, played by senior Jonathan Plummer, the song progressed into a full band performance and then settled down again, bringing the audience’s emotions full circle.
Cabaret Troupe: RISE! was a meaningful addition to TheaterInk’s lineup of shows. The pristine instrumentals, impressive vocals, and energetic dancing made Cab Troupe worth watching.
