MONMOUTH — “Cabaret” scores big on the Cumston Hall stage with an excellent cast in Monmouth Community Players’ current production.

It is a trailblazing musical play about the self-indulgence and decadence of pre-war Berlin when Nazism was on the rise. With such a dark theme, “Cabaret” needs talented performers to capture and hold its audience. This show has that kind of talent in abundance.

Adam P. Blais delivers a compelling performance as the emcee. That’s the iconic role originated by Joel Grey in the show’s 1966 debut and in later revivals, and Blais is excellent in the role. He is MCP’s artistic director.

The lead roles are Sally Bowles, a British singer at the Kit Kat Klub, played by Lindsay Cagney, and Clifford Bradshaw, an American novelist, played by Derrick Lacasse. Their love affair is set against Germany’s ominous political fanaticism.

Cagney, a recent graduate of Dean College in Franklin, Mass., gives a memorable performance as Bowles, who embraces the city’s decadence, despite Cliff’s warnings.

Cagney played the role of Wednesday in Community Little Theater’s production of “The Addams Family” in November.

As Bradshaw, Lacasse gradually wakens to Berlin’s fate. He tries to convince Sally of the dangers, but he can’t overcome her blindness to the facts.

The Kit Kat Klub and its excesses is balanced by a sub-plot of hope and devotion between two older Berliners. Herr Schultz, an elderly Jewish fruit shop owner (played by Ray Fletcher), professes his love for Fräulein Schneider (played by Lucy Hunter Poland), who runs the boarding house where Sally and Cliff live. While the overall mood of “Cabaret” depends upon haunting circumstances that foreshadow World War II, Fletcher and Poland have several numbers that are more in the style of the musicals of 50 and 60 years ago.

Poland’s excellent vocal talents are wonderfully displayed in “So What,” and in “It Couldn’t Please Me More,” a duet with Fletcher. “Married” is another fine number featuring Poland, Fletcher and Christine Gill, who gives a very good performance as Fräulein Kost, a prostitute.

Another highlight of the show is Poland’s rendition of “What Would You Do?” It’s her desperate plea to understand the futility of marrying a Jew in Berlin at that time.

Fletcher has enjoyed a long and successful career in stage musicals from Britain to the United States. Poland has performed in many shows at Gaslight Theatre in Hallowell.

“Maybe This Time” is a familiar song from the show that’s very well done by Cagney. The emcee and company perform “Money,” a pleasing up-tempo number.

Michael Litchfield, veteran of many shows in the area, is excellent as Ernst Ludwig, a Nazi who befriends Cliff.

There’s also an excellent soprano solo by Corbin Bourgoin, a seventh-grader at St. Dominic’s Academy, Auburn, who sings “Tomorrow Belongs To Me.”

“Cabaret” underwent numerous revivals since its debut in 1966, which had a run of 1,165 performances.

Vincent Ratsavong, director, has chosen to use material from the critically acclaimed 1998 Broadway revival for the Monmouth production, which program notes describe as “sultry and gut-wrenching.” His direction and choreography result in a captivating dramatic and musical event at Cumston Hall.

From “Willkommen,” the opening number by the emcee and Kit Kat Klub dancers, to the melancholy notes of “Cabaret” sung by Cagney at the finale, this show is produced and presented with exceptional skill.

Rebecca Caron, musical director, leads a fine four-piece orchestra.

“Cabaret” was written by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff. The numerous musicals by Kander and Ebb include “Chicago,” “Zorba,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Fosse.”

Remaining performances of “Cabaret” are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29 and 30, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31.

Doors open approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of each performance.

General admission adult tickets are $14 and student/senior tickets are $12.

Tickets may be purchased in advance with a credit card by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006, or by visiting http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2267144.

Tickets will also be available at the door and can be purchased with cash or a personal check.

This production is intended for mature audiences.

Cumston Hall is located at 796 Main St., Monmouth.