Take some advice from Cabaret: “Put down the knitting, the book and the broom, it’s time for a holiday.” Arts Alliance’s fully student produced spring show opens this Thursday, and it’s just what you need to escape the stress of wrapping up the quarter.

Cabaret tells the dark story of Sally Bowles (Communication senior Meg Steedle), a dancer at the Kit Kat Klub in 1930s Berlin, and her missed chance to start a new life with Clifford Bradshaw (Weinberg junior Seth Dhonau) as Germany marches towards Nazism. “It’s all about Sally,” said Director Katie Spelman, a Communication junior, “She’s a representation of how we repeat our own mistakes, and how we are weak, and we’re not all phenomenally brave and strong and that’s sad, but it’s okay.”

If Spelman thinks this show is all about Sally, she did a good job casting the role. Meg Steedle gave one of the best performances I’ve ever seen at Northwestern at a preview showing on Tuesday. Her dynamic and genuinely sympathetic portrayal will keep the audience riveted whether she is at the center of a kick line or delivering solo numbers like the poignant “Maybe This Time.” Her adorable smile, big voice and fancy Fosse moves are reason enough to sell anyone a ticket.

Communication junior Lily Howard also delivered a solid performance in the role of Fraulein Schneider. She gave excellent performances in last year’s Cymbeline, directed by Mary Zimmerman, and Arts Alliance’s Company, and now in Cabaret Howard proves herself as a consistently strong and enjoyable actress.

The men playing opposite these ladies paled a bit in comparison. While certainly pleasant singers and actors, Dhonau as Clifford Bradshaw and Music junior Will Selnick as Herr Schultz lacked the compelling spark presented by Steedle and Howard. Happily, though, Communication junior Jay Reynolds, Jr., saved the day for the boys with his devilishly creepy presentation as the Emcee, the puppet master behind all the show’s workings.

The set designer deserves praise, too. Audience seating on three levels of high risers wrapped around three sides of the stage creates an intimate, voyeuristic atmosphere, and unlike most shows in the Louis Room, every seat has a clear view of the stage.

As far as actual sets and props, Spelman opted for a minimalist effect for both practical and artistic reasons. While the starkness of the stage and dark color scheme could be uninteresting at times, the use of ensemble members to create set pieces like doors and trains was illustrated the thinness of the veneer of Sally’s life. Spelman took a literal interpretation of one of the show’s famous lines, “Life is a cabaret.” “My directorial vision for this show is that Sally’s life is more of a performance than any performance she actually gives in the cabaret,” Spelman said.

The show is easily worth the price of the $5 student ticket, but here are a few warnings. If you really hate wigs, don’t go. Steedle in the leading role wears a wig throughout the show, and while it’s more convincing than most, the Louis Room is not big enough for anyone to really fall for it. If you really hate accents, don’t go. Everyone with the exception of Dhonau, who portrays an American, sings and speaks in some sort of accent (mostly German) the whole time. I found that the cast of Cabaret pulled this off pretty well, and there were only a few moments when it distracted from the show, but be advised. Finally, if you don’t like heights, get there early. The narrow top row of seating is at least six feet off the ground and seemed a little precarious.

As a special perk: On Friday, May 30 Northwestern alumnus Gregg Edelman, who starred in the 1987 Broadway revival of Cabaret, will attend the show and give a Q&A session after the performance. Denis O’Hare, another alumnus who appeared in the 1998 Broadway revival, will do the same at the Thursday, May 5 show.

Cabaret would make a sexy date, a fun way to spend a night with friends or a good low-key evening gearing up for Dillo Day. “More than a traditional musical, we’ve created an experience,” said Business Producer Zack Baer, a School of Communication Sophomore, “When you step into the Louis Room, you’ll be stepping into the Kit Kat Klub.”

Cabaret will show at 8 p.m. on May 29-30 and June 5-7 in the Louis Room at Norris. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for others, and can be purchased at the door or by calling 847-491-2305.