West End CABARET Revival (and B’way Transfer?) - News & Discussion Thread- Page 18

[blasvader]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 4:32pm

For before or after 2024 Tonys?

[Robbie516]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 4:57pm

Will Redmayne and Buckley be in the transfer?

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 8:24pm

Saw this tonight and OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Phenomenal from the shot of mystery alcohol they give you when you walk in, to the final moment of horrific silence. 

AIMEE. LOU. WOOD. WOW!!!! A phenomenal performance. Her Sally felt so accessible, if that makes sense. She was so real. It REALLY felt like her show. 

Jumping off of that, I thought John McCrae was good, but he didn't leave a particularly strong impression on me. 

The supporting cast was very strong as well. 

With or without the immersive elements, I think this would be a very strong production of Cabaret. But, the immersive elements elevate it. They REALLY accentuate the bait-and-switch nature of Cabaret. 

You are goaded into having fun, letting your guard down, getting a bit drunk, and being immersed in the magic of this world they've created and then it hits even harder when it all comes crashing down. 

Mild spoilers for the interval into kickline bellow:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The ensemble spends the interval having fun with the audience. They bring people on stage to dance, they get the two sides of the theatre to engage in things like cheering competitions, etc. When Kickline starts, they get the audience to clap and cheer along. Then they pull the rug out from under us and it's horrifying, but also brilliant to experience. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 8:37pm

jkcohen626 said: "Saw this tonight and OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Phenomenal from the shot of mystery alcohol they give you when you walk in, to the final moment of horrific silence.

AIMEE. LOU. WOOD. WOW!!!! A phenomenal performance. Her Sally felt so accessible, if that makes sense. She was so real. It REALLY felt like her show.

Jumping off of that, I thought John McCrae was good, but he didn't leave a particularly strong impression on me.

The supporting cast was very strong as well.

With or without the immersive elements, I think this would be a very strong production of Cabaret. But, the immersive elements elevate it. They REALLY accentuate the bait-and-switch nature of Cabaret.

You are goaded into having fun, letting your guard down, getting a bit drunk, and being immersed in the magic of this world they've created and then it hits even harder when it all comes crashing down.

Mild spoilers for the interval into kickline bellow:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The ensemble spends the interval having fun with the audience. They bring people on stage to dance, they get the two sides of the theatre to engage in things like cheering competitions, etc. When Kickline starts, they get the audience to clap and cheer along. Then they pull the rug out from under us and it's horrifying, but also brilliant to experience.

"

Thanks for this- can you USING THE SPOILER TAG spoil what you mean by "pull the rug out"? And I assume they dont do the Roundabout ending so im v curious how they do it...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 9:03pm

I’m not sure if it’s in every production….but all the productions I I’ve done the ending of the kick line because very… Natzi 

Updated On: 3/29/23 at 09:03 PM

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:30am

RippedMan said: "I’m not sure if it’s in every production….but all the productions I I’ve done the ending of the kick line because very… Natzi"

Of course of couse! I just mean that the immersive elements heighten the ending. They do everything they can after the gut punch of the Tomorrow Belongs to Me Reprise to lighten you back up and get you back to where you were pre-show, before punching you in the gut again with Kickline. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 4:41am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Thanks for this- can you USING THE SPOILER TAG spoil what you mean by "pull the rug out"? And I assume they dont do the Roundabout ending so im v curious how they do it..."

It's not anything unusual for the change that occurs at the end of Kickline. As I just said in my comment to Ripped Man just now, I just think that that change was heightened by the immersive elements.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

After getting everyone super hyped up during the interval and first half of kickline, I think the fact that it turns into a Nazi march hits harder. You can feel the embarrassment of all of the people who were just clapping and cheering along. 

As far as the ending, that I can definitely share:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

For the ending, everyone wears identical suits (the one Sally wears during Cabaret, but with a shirt on) except for Cliff and Herr Schultz who wear their regular costumes. The whole cast stand on the revolve facing forward (as if they're standing in a line) as it spins around the Emcee on a raised platform in the center (also wearing a matching suit). None of the Kit Kat Club dancers nor the Emcee have any makeup on. 

The theme of this production is definitely the infiltration of the last refuge and this is the final form of that. The refuge has been infiltrated and those who were once some of the most unique in Berlin are now just more suits in an almost endless line of suits. Cliff and Herr Schultz are singled out, Cliff by his choosing and Herr Schultz despite his. They don't need concentration camp uniforms or anything else to single them out. 

I found the whole thing extremely effective.

Side notes: that progression is very well shown. We see the Emcee in and out of this suit throughout the show and the ensemble in it during the second act. There is also a big moment when Sally puts hers on before Cabaret. But, this is the first time that Fraulein Schneider (and I think Ernst) don one and the first time we see everyone together with them on. The scene is also very similar to the way they stage the first Tomorrow Belongs to Me except that they do that one with the ensemble placing identical dolls on the revolve. With hindsight, it's the showing the way some Berliners have already lost their uniqueness but that the people of Kit Kat Club haven't yet. By the end of the show we are left with only two people not part of the assimilation. 

 

Updated On: 3/30/23 at 04:41 AM

[BJR]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 7:26am

JSquared2 said: "Your producer friend is incorrect. Contracts have been signed."

Fantastic to hear. I was hoping they were wrong.

[Ricey2]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 4:01pm

I heard the theater they planned to transfer into fell through so I’m really curious on where it’ll go now.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 4:06pm

Ricey2 said: "I heard the theater they planned to transfer into fell through so I’m really curious on where it’ll go now."

Do you know which theatre by any chance? I am thinking of the Hudson or the Lyceum. 

[All So Ozmopolitan]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 4:35pm

I don't have any evidence to offer, but I heard whisper that it was planning to go into The Hudson because of the show's affiliation with ATG. I was surprised/confused to hear that given the amount of renovation that would be needed for this staging (...the Hudson was JUST remodeled). But obviously, the Merrily transfer swooped in and changed the game entirely (as did the Jujamcyn/ATG merger).

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 4:52pm

There were a ton of rumors for the Hudson floating around last year.

It definitely seems like it has everything they need regarding bars and lobby space and I do think this would work best in a three-level with 1000 seats or less (as it is on the West End). 

There were also some rumors about the Lyceum and some very strange rumors about the Majestic, which I think has to be people bull****ting because it would be such an abominable self-cannibalization of the vision for this production to put that show in a barn like that. 

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 6:33pm

Any rumors/thoughts on the cast when it transfers?

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 9:29pm

Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "Any rumors/thoughts on the cast when it transfers?"

First off, we don’t know for sure yet if it’s transferring. Second of all, the rumors are Redmayne and Buckley will come from the London production if this indeed transfers. 

[Robbie516]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 10:31pm

I think the only way this does transfer is if both do it again tbh

[pethian]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 11:15pm

Every time I hear it's happening, I soon hear that there's another glitch.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 8:18am

New West End Leads Announced According to their Instagram

Emcee: Mason Alexander Park

Sally Bowles: Maude Apatow

Both begin their runs on May 29! 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 8:29am

Dylan Smith4 said: "New West End Leads Announced According to their Instagram

Emcee: Mason Alexander Park

Sally Bowles: Maude Apatow

Both begin their runs on May 29!"

Whoa, good for Maude. She’s building a solid theatrical resume on top of Euphoria work. MAP seems like a perfect fit for the Emcee. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 8:33am

I’m excited now! I’ll be in London this summer and I am more than happy to see Maude! Love her in Euphoria! 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 10:49am

[Alex M]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 10:58am

Delete 

 

 

Updated On: 4/26/23 at 10:58 AM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 6/14/23 at 6:44pm

Broadway Journal is reporting on a transfer:

http://broadwayjournal.com

 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/14/23 at 6:48pm

You beat me to it Taffy!

the only question is, WHO IS GONNA PLAY SALLY? Now that it’s looking like Jessie isn’t coming to NYC. I’m excited to FINALLY see this in London sometime next weekend! What big name is being tossed around for Sally? 

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 6/14/23 at 6:51pm

Without Jessie Buckley, my enthusiasm for this has dropped considerably. Oh well

[yyys]

Posted: 6/14/23 at 6:54pm

Eddie Redmayne alone will sell tickets though, I think.