By J. Scott Hill

Sometimes, before I watch and review a show, I worry that the show might suck.

Anyone who enjoys musical theatre already has a relationship with Cabaret — maybe they fell in love with Liza’s Sally Bowles in Bob Fosse’s 1972 film adaptation, maybe they were mesmerized by Alan Cumming’s Emcee in the Sam Mendes 1998 Broadway revival and subsequent tour. Cabaret is almost universally adored, yet it shouldn’t work at all; story wise, it’s something akin to having Bettie Page star in Sophie’s Choice. Pass…no thank you…right? In inexpert hands, Cabaret holds huge potential for epic failure. Thank goodness that Drury Lane Oakbrook’s production of Cabaret is in such expert hands.

The entire ensemble glows and vibrates under the seasoned direction and choreography of Jim Corti. The girls really are beautiful; the orchestra — under Musical Director Doug Peck and Conductor Maria Honigschnabel — sounds beautiful.

Brian Sidney Bembridge proves again that he is perhaps the most talented scenic designer working in Chicago theatre right now. His innovative set for History Boys at the TimeLine is no small part of that show’s continued success through extended run after extended run. Likewise, Bembridge’s set for Cabaret wows. It seems to be made of scaffolding, parts of a steel bridge, or maybe a train trestle — as if the Drury Lane were inside a loft apartment in a barely converted warehouse. There is a hint, a prediction of the industrial decay of the Eastern Bloc that will control part of Berlin not long after the action of the play.

Cabaret is a musical that actors crave to be in, and everybody wants to play the Emcee. Contemporary revivals of Cabaret have opened the door for gender bending in casting and performance. Patrick Andrews is dynamic and borderline amazing as the Emcee. Sometimes he is a straightforward, Joel Grey-type of Emcee. He performs at times in drag, at times barely clothed, at times in a topcoat and lingerie. His vocal performance has a deliberately buzzing or grating quality, like Lucas Cruikshank in his popular “Fred” videos on YouTube — somewhere between Joe Pesci and Jennifer Tilly. But then Patrick Andrews smiles. His smile is captivating and infectious and honest and earnest. Patrick Andrews shows us that he loves us, even if he is going to screw with us for a little bit. We are happy to be there in no small part because he is happy to Wilkommen us there.

Zarah Mahler’s Sally and Jim Weitzler’s Cliff perfectly complement one another. When Sally is worldly, Cliff is naïve. When Cliff is idealistic, Sally is pragmatic. When Sally is suffering existential ennui, Cliff is Candide-ish.

In the beginning, Brandon Dalhlquist is so endearing, so likeable as Ernst Ludwig that he is able to remain subtle and elegant, as his more sinister leanings are made plain. As Fraulein Kost, Christine Sherrill is a one-woman German analogue to the USO, always more patriot than whore.

The performances that really outshine these other brilliant performances are David Lively as Herr Schultz and Rebecca Finnegan as Fraulein Schneider. Lively’s big musical number, “Meeskite,” and Finnegan’s big musical number, “So What,” are highlights of the show. Their big number together, “It Couldn’t Please Me More,” was incredibly warm and wonderful. For a moment Cliff and Sally don’t matter, the burlesque show doesn’t matter; only the late chance at love between Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider matter when Lively and Finnegan are on stage together.

My apprehension was completely baseless. Jim Corti guides a talented ensemble through a vibrant, living production of Cabaret on Brian Sidney Bembridge’s glorious armature of a set. Extraordinary performances are given by all of the actors in major roles — particularly Patrick Andrews, David Lively, and Rebecca Finnegan. Cabaret, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, is a wonderful evening at the theatre — a must-see.

4 STARS

(“Cabaret” runs through Oct 11, 2009 at Drury Lane - Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. 630-530-0111.)

Drury Lane Oakbrook - Now Playing at Drury Lane Theatre

Cabaret production photos by Johnny Knight

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