Cabaret- Short Review
So, I saw the evening performance of Cabaret at the Stratford Festival yesterday. (It was a full cast, by the way.)
A few quick observations:
- It's not really that sexually inappropriate. In fact, I expected more. I suppose that all depends on the production you see, and how they interpret the show. In any case, I'm glad it was tastefully done.
- The actress who played Sally struck me as very charismatic. But then, what do I know?
- The network of phones at the Kit Kat Klub amused me, especially since it was an excellent vehicle for the meeting of Cliff and Sally.
- Cliff and Bobby make out. I just thought that should be noted. I'm still confused as to whether Cliff is gay or not, since he obviously falls in love with Sally later on. Oh well.
- LOL at the Emcee spitting in Cliff's book of Hitler's political theories.
- The pineapple situation is cute. Fräulein Schneider is right. That's way more original than candy or flowers. :D
- The actors that played Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz were very good. Plus, they had nice chemistry together.
- I was shocked whjen I saw the swastika Nazi symbol on Ernest's arm. But then, the show is set in 1930s Berlin, and he did ask Cliff to deliver a mysterious package for him.
- Fräulein Kost mentioning that Herr Schultz is jewish to Ernest is just low.
- Cliff getting everybody's attention by turning off the lights was a very clever way to end the 1st Act.
- I like Kander and Ebb's work a bit more than I did before. Reason being, the dance numbers were very impressive, there was just the right amount of seriousness, and it was overall incredibly interesting.
- The Gorilla metaphor with the Emcee was incredibly clever, in an obvious way.
- Poor Herr Schultz. While I understand Fräulein Schneider's logic, and know that the fearful situation with the Nazi Party will not simply "blow over", I still think it's sad that they can't get married due to silly prejuidices.
- I Don't Care Much obviously wasn't cut from this production.
- Ugh, Cliff's getting beat up by the Nazis was awful, but not horribly clever on Ernest's part. On that note- what a tyrant! Somebody refused to do something for you and you do something like that to them? Oy.
- Sally's having the baby with Cliff wouldn't have worked out, I think. I liked how the notice of the fur coat missing segwayed into Cliff's finding out that Sally got an abortion.
- Cliff starting to write the novel on the train to Paris about his experience in Berlin was a nice, if fairly predictable way to end the show.
- I also liked the beginning and end parts with the movie projections, as well as the Emcee's saying that they "have no troubles here" and that "life is beautiful" .
- I'd also like to note that Act 1 is more sexual, while Act 2 is rather political, and more depressing. Not to mention that even though it is very dark, the show is not without humour.
That is all.
Well, it's not perfect but I tried. The main reason that I had trouble writing this was because I was mostly unfamiliar with the material beforehand. Thus, I wasn't sure what to comment on. I wanted to be surprised. I was, and enjoyed the production immensly. Although, there were a couple of things I didn't understand. I hope I don't feel obliged to review the Shakespeare I see today.......
A few quick observations:
- It's not really that sexually inappropriate. In fact, I expected more. I suppose that all depends on the production you see, and how they interpret the show. In any case, I'm glad it was tastefully done.
- The actress who played Sally struck me as very charismatic. But then, what do I know?
- The network of phones at the Kit Kat Klub amused me, especially since it was an excellent vehicle for the meeting of Cliff and Sally.
- Cliff and Bobby make out. I just thought that should be noted. I'm still confused as to whether Cliff is gay or not, since he obviously falls in love with Sally later on. Oh well.
- LOL at the Emcee spitting in Cliff's book of Hitler's political theories.
- The pineapple situation is cute. Fräulein Schneider is right. That's way more original than candy or flowers. :D
- The actors that played Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz were very good. Plus, they had nice chemistry together.
- I was shocked whjen I saw the swastika Nazi symbol on Ernest's arm. But then, the show is set in 1930s Berlin, and he did ask Cliff to deliver a mysterious package for him.
- Fräulein Kost mentioning that Herr Schultz is jewish to Ernest is just low.
- Cliff getting everybody's attention by turning off the lights was a very clever way to end the 1st Act.
- I like Kander and Ebb's work a bit more than I did before. Reason being, the dance numbers were very impressive, there was just the right amount of seriousness, and it was overall incredibly interesting.
- The Gorilla metaphor with the Emcee was incredibly clever, in an obvious way.
- Poor Herr Schultz. While I understand Fräulein Schneider's logic, and know that the fearful situation with the Nazi Party will not simply "blow over", I still think it's sad that they can't get married due to silly prejuidices.
- I Don't Care Much obviously wasn't cut from this production.
- Ugh, Cliff's getting beat up by the Nazis was awful, but not horribly clever on Ernest's part. On that note- what a tyrant! Somebody refused to do something for you and you do something like that to them? Oy.
- Sally's having the baby with Cliff wouldn't have worked out, I think. I liked how the notice of the fur coat missing segwayed into Cliff's finding out that Sally got an abortion.
- Cliff starting to write the novel on the train to Paris about his experience in Berlin was a nice, if fairly predictable way to end the show.
- I also liked the beginning and end parts with the movie projections, as well as the Emcee's saying that they "have no troubles here" and that "life is beautiful" .
- I'd also like to note that Act 1 is more sexual, while Act 2 is rather political, and more depressing. Not to mention that even though it is very dark, the show is not without humour.
That is all.
Well, it's not perfect but I tried. The main reason that I had trouble writing this was because I was mostly unfamiliar with the material beforehand. Thus, I wasn't sure what to comment on. I wanted to be surprised. I was, and enjoyed the production immensly. Although, there were a couple of things I didn't understand. I hope I don't feel obliged to review the Shakespeare I see today.......