Results: Cabaret
Published on 12/02/2023
Next in my ongoing stage musical series is Cabaret. With music by John Kander and lyrics by Frank Ebb, it had it's premiere 1966 in Boston. The inspiration for this came from a 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood which was made into a 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten. Willkommen, I am your host...
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
The story - 1929-30's Berlin. American writer Clifford Bradshaw strikes up a relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. A subplot follows the relation between boarding house owner Fraulein Schneider and her suitor Herr Schultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. Over hanging all this is the Nazi rise to power. Ever been to an actual cabret?
Yes - have attended such a show in person.
9%
204 votes
No - may have seen the musical or movie Cabaret, but not been in a real one.
52%
1136 votes
Not Applicable
39%
860 votes
2.
2.
The Emcee - The cabaret of the title is The Kit Kat Klub, overseen by a nameless host. Joel Grey is best known for playing him, including the first showing and later film. I got a chance to see him do the show in Detroit. In any case, always found his character a bit sinister. He's likely well aware things in the outside are going to hell in a hand basket, but in the cabaret, everything is beautiful... what's your take?
Yes - there is something creepy, impish, sinister about him that goes beyond the make-up. I'd be a bit freaked with him as host.
20%
433 votes
No - simply a persona, stage make-up, pulling the audience in with entertainment.
27%
603 votes
N/A - heck if I know, never watched the musical or film and probably not even the video.
53%
1164 votes
3.
3.
In general, the songs in the club tend to be humorous, though can have undertones. But there are other tunes that address what's to come, such as Tomorrow Belongs to Me. Starts as an ode to Germany, than takes a turn. That's Michael York as Brian Roberts (the Clifford character) and Helmut Griem as Baron Maximilian von Heune, not in the original musical. I'm reminded of the line from the musical Evita "get them while they're young, Evita..." What's your notion on pulling in young folk for political agenda to inspire others?
Young folk may not know what's up yet, wanting to be a part of something. So 'focusing' them on a certain agenda to influence others is messed up.
24%
536 votes
Young folk are not as dumb as we take them for, can make their own decisions as to what they believe or follow.
25%
560 votes
Not Applicable
50%
1104 votes
4.
4.
The movie - in 1971, the musical was adapted as a movie with Liza Minelli, Michel York and Joel Grey. Bob Fosse directed. It won various Academy Awards. It cuts most all the songs not within the Kit Kat Klub and ads new plot elements. I'm one of those who get a bit ticked when film versions of musicals don't stick to the material, deleting stuff at the directors will. Tim Burton's version of Sweeny Todd is another example. It's not that either are bad films, just much of the story missing. What's your feeling?
Yes - I tend to like a film adaptation of a musical to be reasonably close to what's on stage as far as song and plot.
27%
592 votes
No - As Tim Burton stated, what's the point in a song about Sweeny Todd when the whole show is going to tell you about him? Maybe I'll watch a three and some hour long stage musical, but not a movie.
15%
327 votes
N/A - Don't watch musicals or film adaptations of them to begin with.
58%
1281 votes
COMMENTS