SpielPalast TONIGHT

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!
Fremde, etranger, stranger.
Gluklich zu sehen, je suis enchante,
Happy to see you, bleibe, reste, stay.

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome
Im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret

YAY! Our opening night went smashingly darlink! The packed house was boisterous, drunken, sparsely dressed and sexy! City Hall has never had so much fun. Its marble corridors were shuddering with glee, its velvet curtains were decorated with lingerie and its stairwells were full of naked sweaty performers.

I figured if I could make it through ONE show without falling on my ass, missing a cue, forgetting to wear underwear (you are always changing your underwear so this is easier than you may think), losing my voice or dropping an armful of trays, I would be able to breathe easier for the next 5 shows. Now I can say goodbye to my worries and enjoy the beauty and magic that is the cabaret...

Above are Seth and Bon in a quiet moment between skits. Seth has a supremely flexible face/canvas that can make you laugh or cry in 5 seconds flat - he was born to perform. Bon has a deeply resonant and beautiful singing voice and did you know that he works for British aerospace? Cabaret folk - it takes all types...
Above are the newbies, me, Nicci and Teresa. They are a grand group of girls (and so is Alex who is not in this picture)! I think I am allowed to say this now as the secret is out of the bag and the shows are officially underway. Hate to ruin any surprises...

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome
Im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret

Leave your troubles outside!
So - life is disappointing? Forget it!
We have no troubles here! Here life is beautiful...
The girls are beautiful...
Even the orchestra is beautiful!

Performing is such an amazing experience. All the fear and anxiety melts away once you are on the stage spinning around and being blinded by powerful lights. All of a sudden you are in a different space, one that has no time or tangible boundaries and you ... just ... are.

I am sure many people have described this experience FAR better than me - Colette for instance. But it is something that I came to late in life and something that I adore. I don't want it to ever end. It is intoxicating.

Start by admitting
From cradle to tomb
Isn't that long a stay.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Only a Cabaret, old chum,
And I love a Cabaret!

And the best part of all, the after show drinks with the dancers, actors and musicians that I have come to know and love. Sigh, this is a rag tag family of talented misfits that I do not ever want to lose. I don't want the shows to be over, ever! Wish me luck tonight! And get your ass to the cabaret ol' chum! What are you waiting for!?

What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.

Put down the knitting,
The book and the broom.
Time for a holiday.
Life is Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.

Come taste the wine,
Come hear the band.
Come blow your horn,
Start celebrating;
Right this way,
Your table's waiting

No use permitting
some prophet of doom
To wipe every smile away.
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret!