Actors Bridget Coggins as Fraulein Kost and Clark Green as Ernst Ludwig perform during a pivotal Nazi reveal in The Acting Company’s production of “Cabaret,” closing this weekend in Yuba City.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Yuba-Sutter residents have one last chance to catch the show audiences have been raving about. The Acting Company’s latest production of “Cabaret” closes this weekend after a run that has proven both entertaining and quietly haunting.

In his directorial debut, Christian De La Torre breathes new life into the classic 1966 musical, preserving its historic charm while sharpening its relevance for modern audiences. Set in 1930s Berlin as the Nazi regime begins its rise to power, “Cabaret” explores themes of apathy, denial and the fragility of personal freedom, ideas that, under De La Torre’s direction, feel less like history and more like a warning.

From the moment patrons enter the theater, they are immersed in the world of the Kit Kat Club. Cast members mingle with the audience, flirting and playfully breaking the fourth wall, establishing a sense of decadence and unease before the show begins.

Drew Tamez, left, performs alongside Christian De La Torre in a gorilla costume during a scene from The Acting Company’s production of “Cabaret,” now in its final weekend in Yuba City.

That energy is guided by Drew Tamez as the Emcee. Adorned in striking European clown makeup, Tamez commands the stage with subtlety and precision. A raised eyebrow, a curled smile or a shift in tone is all it takes to pull the audience deeper into the story. His performance is equal parts charming and unsettling.

The production opens in a world of color, sensuality and carefree indulgence. The ensemble fills the stage with vibrant, morally ambiguous characters, fully embracing the hedonistic spirit of prewar Berlin. But as the Nazi presence grows, that vibrancy begins to erode slowly and deliberately.

Costumes become muted. Makeup fades, smudges and disappears. Characters who once reveled in excess are reduced to subdued versions of themselves, blending into an almost unrecognizable uniformity. The transformation is gradual but effective, unfolding in real time and leaving the audience with a lingering sense of loss.

What begins as shock turns into something more complicated. As the freedom and flamboyance of the Kit Kat Club fade, audiences may find themselves unexpectedly mourning it, grappling with how easily individuality and expression can be stripped away.

Drew Tamez as the Emcee performs during the opening moments of The Acting Company’s production of “Cabaret,” setting the tone for the immersive musical in its final weekend in Yuba City.

The cast delivers a cohesive performance, maintaining consistent German accents that enhance authenticity without becoming distracting. Standout supporting performances add warmth and levity, particularly in the portrayal of an unlikely older romance between Foster McManus as Fraulein Schneider and Edward Ferreira as Herr Schultz, a relationship that offers brief relief before being undone by the tightening Nazi regime.

Mary Ramon carries significant weight in the production, serving as both choreographer and leading lady Sally Bowles. Her performance balances charisma and vulnerability, while her choreography brings a dynamic range to the show, at times playful and provocative and at others deeply emotional.

The production is further elevated by its live musical accompaniment, performed by Darren Shearer, Caitlyn Warwick and David Coe. The growing return to smaller live ensembles in local theater has been a welcome shift, replacing overused backing tracks with something more dynamic and immediate.

With only three performances remaining, audiences still have time to experience a production that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 1-2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3. For tickets and more information, visit ActingCompany.org.