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July 18, 2003/Tamuz 18 5763, Vol. 55, No. 47
'Cabaret' a profound tale
ALISA SLOAN
Special Sections Editor
Michael Aurit (center) plays the Kit Kat Club emcee in Desert Stages Theatre's production of "Cabaret," through Aug. 17.
Photo by Laura Kerrigan
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"Willkommen."
That single German word sets the tone for the Tony Award-winning musical "Cabaret." Set in Berlin during the rise of the Third Reich, the meaning of the musical, like the meaning of that word, slowly unfolds before your eyes. Both are mysterious, keeping you on your toes.
Loosely translated, "willkommen" can mean "a warm welcome" ... or a cold one.
As the Master of Ceremonies invites the audience into the "beautiful" world of the cabaret, outside there is social and political chaos. Germany, crippled after World War I, is falling into the hands of the fascist Nazi party. Inside the cabaret, a story of love, complicated by the outside events, unfolds as the devilish Master of Ceremonies directs the action.
The role of Master of Ceremonies, or emcee, in Desert Stages Theatre's current production of "Cabaret," is played by Michael Aurit. Originally from Scottsdale, Aurit, 20, is a student at the Boston Conservatory, majoring in musical theater.
This is his first time performing in "Cabaret," but he has been a fan of the piece for some time.
"When I first saw (the movie version of 'Cabaret') I was a little kid," says Aurit. "Even as a child, I was completely fascinated by the intensity of the show, and Joel Gray's performance as the emcee really scared me."
Aurit saw the revival on Broadway a few years ago. "When the show was over, not one person in the audience moved," he recalls. "It reached so many people, and I knew that it was something I wanted to be involved in."
Aurit says the role of emcee has affected him personally. "To be honest, it has made a lasting impact on me," he shares, in part because of the pride he feels in being Jewish.
Aurit became a bar mitzvah at Temple Chai in 1996, but his family now belongs to Temple Beth Israel. He considers himself "not religious," but says he's "very proud of the culture" and attends High Holiday services in Boston and other Jewish events in the city.
"My parents always taught me, as a Jew, to be very aware of the world around me. And in this show, we see that indifference and weakness in character allow people to be sucked into the politics of the time."
Because viewers can't quite put a finger on who the character of the emcee really is, says Aurit, it gives him the opportunity to "shock the audience into awareness" in the role.
"As a Jew ... to be able to show people a piece of this history that they may have not seen before, that's very profound for me.
"As a person and as an actor," he continues, "I think that this piece really gets to show the audience these events in a new light."
Likewise, Aurit has an interest in politics and finds that the political statement made by "Cabaret" is relevant in 2003.
"In times of social upheaval people are faced with making these choices about their lives," he says. "And fear plays a main part in how a person makes a choice. Fear and the need to conform to the status quo is a factor in how a person behaves."
He found out about the role while home for winter break. He did a little research on Desert Stages and asked people who had been there what they thought of their productions. "They said that they had a wonderful reputation and that Gerry Cullity, the director over there, was very good," Aurit reports.
He auditioned with about 60 or 70 other people, he estimates. "I was so surprised at the turnout," he admits. "You don't usually think of Phoenix as a huge musical town, but there are obviously a lot of young people and adults who love to do this."
Because of his long-term interest in the role, playing the part has turned out to be much different than just seeing it. "Seeing this role, you are a blind audience member, just wanting to see what's around every corner," Aurit explains. "When you're playing the part, it's turned completely around. The joke's on the audience. ... I know everything the audience doesn't know."
Likewise, he says, the Master of Ceremonies not only has knowledge about the outcome but is able to share scenes with the audience at his own whim. The emcee's manipulation of the scenes also dictates the audience's emotions.
"If theatergoers leave this show startled and a little uncomfortable about what they've just seen," says Aurit, "then I think I've done my job."
Details
- What: "Cabaret"
- When: Through Aug. 17
- Where: Desert Stages Theatre, 8473 E. McDonald Drive, Scottsdale
- Time: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 6 p.m. Sundays.
- Cost: $15 in advance, $14 seniors/students, $18 day of show
- Call: 480-483-1664 or visit www.desertstagestheatre.com
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