Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome…
Written: Apr 29 '01 (Updated Apr 29 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Sexist, chauvinistic, condescending...oh yeah, funny too! I loved it.
Cons: for easily-offended: see Pros
The Bottom Line: The last thing before the intermission.
(if you've seen the show, you know what I mean)
|
|
|
| AlexG's Full Review: Cabaret |
…im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret! Given four Tony Awards (including Best Musical Revival), given that many of my friends (all who have seen the show) recommended it, and given that it is playing literally across the street from my work, I really had no excuse not to see Cabaret. It took a long time, but better late than never. Cabaret is awesome!
Studio 54 is not your ordinary Broadway theater. While the mezzanine level is like any other on Broadway, the orchestra is quite different—tables and chairs instead of rows of seats. There are four chairs at each table and each table has a lamp in the middle. The light is centrally regulated and goes on and off during the show. Pretty cool.
The doors of Studio 54 open one hour prior to each show for light dinner and drinks. The prices are as steep as the Alps. $7 for a beer, $40 for a bottle of wine on the cheap side (going all the way to $350!). Sally Bowles Special--$60 for one liter of chilled cosmopolitan. The price doesn’t seem very special, but what do I know?! One doesn’t have to order anything, of course, but it’s somewhat awkward when a good-looking charming waitress comes to your table and asks, “Can I get you something?,” and you see everyone around you drinking something. In any case, you can bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy throughout the evening.
The plot of the show is seemingly simple, but it has some deep undercurrents (some subliminal and some not so subliminal) that will sure make one think of this show more than just a comedy. In short, the story takes place in Berlin in 1930-31. Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, comes to Germany to work on his new novel. At the train station, he meets Ernst Ludwig, a German, who recommends Cliff an excellent place to stay in Berlin—Fraulein Schneiders’, which is the show’s secondary setting.
The primary setting, of course, is the Kit Kat Club, where Cliff gets acquainted with Sally Bowles, a young girl from England—the Club’s leading performer—who finds Cliff’s looks, accent and career a real turn-on. After Sally is fired from the Club she moves in with Cliff, who finds her irresistibly attractive. Fast forward. Sally finds out that she is pregnant, but the father is unknown.
The plot thickens when Fraulein Schneider, Cliff’s landlady, accepts a marriage proposal from Herr Schultz, a local shopkeeper. Ernst Ludwig shows up at the engagement party wearing a swastika armband. The Jewish wedding disgusts him and his remarks provoke Cliff to a fight.
The incident is a prequel to rapidly changing political situation in Germany. And Cliff wants no part of it. He buys two tickets out of Berlin, but Sally…well, go see the show and find out.
Cabaret has its fair share, to say the least, of sexual innuendos, sexist and chauvinistic remarks, which most people would find very funny. The Kit Kat girls wear just enough clothes to cover their private parts. This show is certainly not for children and conservative folks.
Cabaret is all about memorable music and presentation. It doesn’t have powerful opera-like vocal performances resembling Les Miserables. Cabaret is a different kind of show, not better or worse—just different, and definitely worth seeing…at least once.
And now, I give you: the toast of Mayfair--Fraulein Sally Bowles!—played by lovely and beautiful Gina Gershon (at the time of this review). Admittedly, besides her striking looks, Gershon’s movie career is not something to write home about. Even though she has appeared in over a dozen films since her 1988 debut in Pretty in Pink, no leading roles come to mind. So, unless you already know who Gina Gershon is, naming movies with her participation would probably not going to help you recall. Few people know, however, that Gina Gershon’s career started in theatre. In fact, she is a founding member of one of New York’s theater groups, and she has some impressive theater credits on her resume. I have a feeling that Sally Bowles in Cabaret is going to be the crème of the crop. She is terrific on stage!
Cabaret tickets ($90 orchestra at the box office) are regularly available at 50% off on the day of the performance from the Times Square and World Trade Center’s booths. However, if you don’t feel like spending your time waiting in line and/or prefer to buy your tickets in advance and therefore increase your chances for better seats, there is another option, albeit a bit more expensive. Go to the Visitors Center (Time Square, between 46th and 47th streets on Broadway) and ask for a Cabaret coupon (other shows are also available). Best seats for Cabaret, with this coupon, are $54 (good for marketing, you know, $54 @ 54.)
So…Life is disappointing?
Forget it
We have NO troubles here
In here, life is beautiful
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
AlexG
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 130
Trusted by: 237 members
About Me:
Alex has a voracious appetite for travel. Travel hasn't satisfied an appetite. It's created one.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.