Minnelli and Grey sparkle, and the Fosse flash is everywhere in evidence.

Chilling Fosse vision of Weimar Berlin, stylishly directed and choreographed, featuring a show-stopping musical performance by Minnelli, Grey's unforgettable emcee and thoughtful acting from Michael York.

It is literate, bawdy, sophisticated, sensual, cynical, heart-warming, and disturbingly thought-provoking.

This is no ordinary musical. Part of its success comes because it doesn't fall for the old cliché that musicals have to make you happy. Instead of cheapening the movie version by lightening its load of despair, director Bob Fosse has gone right to the bleak heart of the material and stayed there well enough to win an Academy Award for Best Director.

It stands as a hugely enjoyable, occasionally chilling, musical.