Its an accident of history that Nick Garrison began his career in Seattle in the 1990s and not Berlin in the 1920s. With his satyrs grin, expressive voice, and vaguely serpentine sexiness, he assumed local rock-star status for his turns in shows like Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Chris Jeffries original musical Vera Wilde. But the role he seemed born to play is the one hes bringing to the 5th Avenues production of Cabaret opening this week, the sinister Emcee. Garrison admits that the landmark performances of Joel Grey and, more recently, Alan Cumming as the manipulative host of a seedy Berlin nightclub cast long shadows. Both of those performances are sort of stuck in my head, but Im not afraid of that. You cant copy a performance unless youre an impressionist, so you might as well steal where and when you can. He was also inspired by his research into the actual cabarets of the Weimar Republic, and figures like Sebastian Drote, who had an almost Svengali-like relationship with the famous dancer Anita Berber. Drote didnt have a lot of talent himself, but he knew how to use people, and he accomplished a tremendous amount through sheer willpower. And while Garrison cut his teeth in Seattles smaller houses like the Empty Space and Re-bar, hes looking forward to tackling the size and grandeur of the 5th Avenues stage. I love the challenge of trying to keep the intimate feel of what Im doing in a house as big as the 5th. The lucky thing for me is that most of what the character does is out in the audiences laps. Whether they like that or not? Garrison gives an only slightly evil laugh. Thats right! [Also see Tim Appelo’s review here.] 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900, www.5thavenue.org. $20-$77. 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Wed., 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 1:30 & 7 p.m. Sun. Ends April 13. JOHN LONGENBAUGH
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sundays, 1:30 & 7 p.m. Starts: March 25. Continues through April 13, 2008
