| re: Joel Grey: "Cabaret" was a warning. | |
| Posted by: scoot1er 11:30 am EST 11/25/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Joel Grey: "Cabaret" was a warning. - Chromolume 11:57 pm EST 11/24/24 | |
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| Spoiler: I am very closely associated with "Cabaret" and have been for many years, so you can take my comments either seriously or not. Hal's production was groundbreaking in many ways: It was the first musical to deal with antisemitism, the rise of Nazi-ism and abortion. The brilliance of the mirror reflecting the audience so the audience members could see their reactions to the horrific and yet entertaining show was also groundbreaking. In a similar way, Rebecca's production, by placing it in the round, provides the audience with the ability to see other audience members reacting, which is equally chilling depending, of course, on their reactions which is why I agree with Joel Grey's op-ed. But not only is the reaction to "If You Could See Her Through My Eyes" problematic, so is the reaction to "What Would You Do?" Are we applauding the actor, the song or the sentiment? The same can be said of the way Rebecca staged the end of the show. It is the only version I have seen in which the Emcee is not a victim but becomes part of the Nazi Party and, at the top of the turntable, becomes a leader. It is frightening and chilling in a way I have never seen before. So what are we applauding? And therein lies the brilliance of "Cabaret." It is not only entertaining but it is also a warning, so astonishingly well accomplished by Fred, John and Joe, and Hal in the original production, that it is often hard to separate the two. Sufficeth to say, Cabaret will continue to be produced because the world will always be in a state of turmoil and "Cabaret" encapsulates that turmoil with artistic excellence. | |
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