ON a magical Sunday morning, the bright blue sunny skies over Fyshwick looked down on Nazi Germany in the 1930s – the Canberra Philharmonic was at its final outside rehearsal of “Cabaret”.

The entire set has been built in the yard beside the Philo’s costume warehouse.

Soon it would transfer to the Erindale Theatre, where the show opens on July 10 for a 16-day run. But for the moment the dancers of the Kit Kat Club were strutting their stuff on the open-air set under the guiding hand of director Jim McMullen.

One of the stars, Kelly Roberts, who plays Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli’s role in the movie) while waiting for her cue said the production was very different from the film.

“There are two strong storylines,” she said. “Sally’s story is just one of them.”

The other surrounds Clifford Bradshaw, the young American writer who is dazzled by Sally, but has other interests as well.

This was driven home when Kelly opened with a song, “Don’t Tell Mama”, that isn’t in the movie. It has a special piquancy for the American-born Roberts who met her Canberra husband in the US. Her mother is flying from America for opening night.

“It’s the first time she’s seen me on stage in Australia,” she says. “Really looking forward to it.”

The producers warn “Cabaret” contains adult content and may not be suitable for young people. It’s at Erindale Theatre, July 10-26, bookings to 6257 1950 or philo.org.au/ticketing.