`CABARET' PRESENTS DARK SIDE OF NIGHT : THE FACTS.

Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News

Don't expect froth in ``Cabaret,'' the latest offering by Santa Susana Repertory; the lively songs and dance belie the serious, underlying message.

Berlin in 1929-30 was a mecca for artists and scientists alike. Its devil-may-care mood permeated a city that seemed to be after momentary happiness, almost as if it knew that a devastating war was on the horizon that would completely destroy it. Mixed with its freedom, naughtiness and mad gaiety was the flowering of insidious Nazism. Against this background are two bittersweet love stories.

American Cliff Bradshaw (Paul Hartel) is lured to the excitement of Berlin, where he plans to finish a novel and make a living teaching English. On the train from Paris he learns his first lesson about his destination's lawlessness when he meets German Ernst Ludwig (Trevor Olsen), who uses Cliff to smuggle contraband across the border. Ernst is friendly and enthusiastic about Berlin's night life, urging Cliff to sample its delight at the Kit Kat Club.

Cliff finds a room at Fraulein Schneider's (Linda Stiegler), joining other roomers - the lusty, sailor-crazy Fraulein Kost (Nancy Osborne) and Jewish shop owner Herr Schultz (Ciro Barbaro).

The Kit Kat Club with its sexy chorines (Jennifer Bledsoe, Elise Brahmer, Deidre Fisher and Heather Halley) and its roguish Emcee (Don Lucas) is the epitome of Berlin night life. White-faced and smiling, the Emcee sings the famous lines, ``Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome,'' and it doesn't take much imagination to envision that he may be asking you to hell.

When Cliff visits the infamous club, he's thoroughly intrigued with the headlining entertainment - freewheeling English singer Sally Bowles (Rhae Ann Theriault). Though she's attached at the moment, it doesn't take long for her to switch boyfriends and move in with Cliff.

At the rooming house Herr Schultz is sweet on Fraulein Schneider, and their romance turns into a proposal of marriage. What initially seemed so wonderful soon turns sinister, when the growing Nazi movement makes it clear that Jews are no longer considered German. Schneider is not brave enough to stand up to the danger.

A perceptive Cliff sees what is happening and attempts to persuade Sally to flee to Paris with him. Shortsighted Sally cannot see past the tawdry world Berlin has become, and he leaves, alone.

Of the many outstanding performances, Theriault, Lucas, Hartel and Barbaro must be highlighted. Bravos also to the superb Cabaret Band led by pianist Diann Alexander and including Denise Briese, Ann Patterson, June Satton and Nicole Falzone.

WHAT: ``Cabaret,'' book by Joe Masteroff, based on a play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb.

WHEN: Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. through Oct. 12.

WHERE: Forum Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks.

COST: $20 to $25 per person.

INFORMATION [phone].

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Photo

Photo: Sally Bowles (Rhae Ann Theriault) and the Emcee (Don Lucas) are stars at the Kit Kat Club in the musical ``Cabaret'' showing in Thousand Oaks.