BUTLER TWP - Life is a cabaret at the Succop Theatre.

The Musical Theatre Guild opened "Cabaret" Friday night at the theater at the Butler County Community College and it was teeming with talent.

Brookes Decker mastered his role of Emcee, the master or ceremonies. He had the personality, the wit and the luscious vocals to command the role from his opening note and make it his own down to the final disturbing scene.

Decker was versatile as storyteller, dancer and social commentator as well.

"Tomorrow Belongs to Me" was a hauntingly eerie yet beautifully harmonized song that gave the audience a premonition of things to come.

Whitney Ann Jenkins, a newcomer to the musical theater stage, bowled the crowd over with her rendition of Sally Bowles. She was deliciously naughty and most pleasant to listen to.

She sings with a boldness that belies her tiny frame. She brought down the house with her "Cabaret" finale.

"Cabaret" is an unusual musical that centers on the English nightclub singer Bowles and the American "starving author" Clifford Bradshaw (Brad Griffiths). Set in the decadence of Berlin on the cusp of the rise of the Third Reich, there is a tension and an uneasiness that sets it apart from other musicals.

Most of the tension and drama is saved for the last scene of Act One, which was so well played the audience members were unusually slow in moving from their seats when the lights came up for intermission.

It was a delight to see Randy Krampert on the stage again as he played the somewhat unsettling role of the menacing Ernst Ludwig, a Nazi supporter.

Krampert sucked us in with his kindness toward strangers then shifted gears when he donned the swastika arm ban and made the audience stir uncomfortably in their seats during a bone-chilling fierce rendition of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me".

It was a welcome back to Lori Williamson, who played a well-crafted Fraulein Schneider. Her strong, deep, rich vocals were bawdy during her "So What" number and convincingly touching during "It Couldn't Please Me More."

The audience fell in love with the concept of love in the twilight years for her and Herr Schultz, played by Dennis Casey.

The compelling scene when reality cut between the two was quite moving, making her bittersweet "What Would You Do" even more painful.

The American in Berlin trying to sort out relationships and politics was Bradshaw, played by Griffiths. His tender vocals on "Why Should I Wake Up" made the scene more believable.

Julia Kramer played the beautiful and busy girl next door who serviced the lonely service men. She was most lovely and delightful but her transformation at the engagement party from lover of men to lover of the Reich was most impressive.

The amazing set featured a usable catwalk behind which sat the orchestra. The lighting was well done as was the choreography.

Kudos go to MTG for producing the provocative, thought-provoking classic and doing a great job at it.