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Post by matildaswinton on Oct 21, 2022 10:55:59 GMT
Saw this a few weeks ago thanks to the lottery… had seats at the end of row B upstairs right next to the band.
What a phenomenal production. Having seen the white-knucklingly gritty Mendes version in NYC with Emma Stone and Alan Cumming, I am so happy to have caught this iteration. Not to say that other production isn’t fantastic, but this one did a few things for me that the other didn’t.
It was timely, somehow in a way that the other tried to be but missed. The show begins with so much color and joy, and slowly that gets stripped away… perhaps I’m in the minority, but the soft ending worked for me. It was like the show gets more and more hopeless… you can feel that life has changed all around these people.
Going off of that, I felt that Callum’s performance begins full of exhuberance. This emcee feels like a real person, and young kid with a fantastic job working in the best club in Berlin. And he is milking it and spreading joy. Yet by the end, it feels like he is trapped in this changing world. First time I felt this character had an actual arc.
Madeline is sensational I my opinion. She can actually sing and therefore makes informed choices on her vocals that aid in the building of a character. What I loved about her Sally was that everything was grounded. Where Emma was a manic rush of energy that sped towards oblivion, this Sally gives you her ups and downs, and you follow her journey line by line. She’s not a one-note railroad track to ruin, but a woman trying to move through life in a way that works for her.
The production is brilliant for following the text… time and time again, characters refer to the club as the hottest spot in Berlin, and it really felt like that. I wondered why other interpretations go so far towards druggy grit. These characters might drink and do drugs, but they’re beautiful and talented and working and having fun. It makes the slow creep of fascism devastating.
Vivien Parry and Richard Katz are perfect… immediate and fully alive. Michelle Bishop nails it all.
This whole production is directed with such a groundedness that also breathes. Nothing goes too fast or gets out of hand… we feel everything with them until the numbness sets in.
My only issue was Sid Sagar. I think I understand the casting… Cliff felt like the kind of kid who would swing both ways and fall madly in love with Sally. He felt like a dreamer, young and righteous as the Nazis move in. But he felt flatter than the rest. And when Sally reveals where she’s been in the second act, he did a Voila Davis ugly cry that I felt was extremely chewy…. It felt like he was stealing he scene from her. Madeline was great in reacting to it… like, “wow, this reaction is a lot more than I even expected…”. But I felt it took the focus away from the choice Sally made and her explanations. It became so so sooo about him. Not sure if it was direction or his choice. Kinda like when Bart Sher had one daugher break down and cry on the floor right before Matchmaker in Fiddler… like, we didn’t need this. Maybe he got there in rehearsal one day and they told him to replicate it every night. But it didn’t work for me. And the transition into the next scene was immediate ugly cry face to neutral and we’re on the train. Hmmm.
All in all, brilliant show.
And the band!!! That brass!!! Amazing orchestrations and playing. It felt electric.
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Post by oedipus on Oct 25, 2022 10:00:15 GMT
I saw this Cabaret this weekend (having seen Mendes' revival in the US just before the pandemic) and it's equally terrific: different, but powerful. Definitely the best Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider I've ever seen -- those sequences really popped.
However, I agree 1000 percent with MatildaSwilton, re: Sid Sagar's Cliff: his second-act reaction was just *way* too much, particularly after an understated performance in the first act. I've seen a half-dozen Cliffs, and for the life of me I can't understand why producers don't cast *against* type: Cliff is (frankly) underwritten as passive--a 'camera,' as Isherwood put it--so why lean into that characterization? It would be 10 times more interesting to cast Cliff as a solid, swaggering, salt-of-the-earth Pennsylvanian, so that it makes sense why pansexual men and women are throwing themselves at him. And so the revelation of Cliff's own sexuality might be something of a surprise rather than a foregone conclusion -- and the thought of a family somehow a sliver of normalcy in a world increasingly unhinged.
But this is a quibble, really. It's a strong production. I thought the "Money" song was particularly spooky and brilliantly re-conceived.
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Post by gussiemwra on Oct 25, 2022 11:36:23 GMT
Is it true that they're no longer giving out a drink when you go in? From what I've heard, they are extremely understaffed. A friend of mine who used to work there said its a toxic environment and ushers are quitting.
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Post by alece10 on Oct 25, 2022 11:42:33 GMT
Is it true that they're no longer giving out a drink when you go in? From what I've heard, they are extremely understaffed. A friend of mine who used to work there said its a toxic environment and ushers are quitting. I was there last week and got a drink token. Maybe it now depends on where you are seated. Can't say for other parts of the theatre but in the stalls there were loads of ushers and FOH staff.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 25, 2022 22:51:08 GMT
I got a drinks token this week. They ushered everyone into the same entrance because of the rain and everyone got the drinks token and sticker for their phone.
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Post by kyvai on Oct 26, 2022 6:33:14 GMT
I went on Friday for my second visit, and was offered the shot of schnapps on the way in same as first time around. I went in a lot later (about 7.10) and it was quite rushed to get through - if it’s your first time I’d definitely recommend getting there earlier, think I went in about 6.40 first time and felt I had plenty of time to enjoy the prologue and explore the bars and everything that was going on before the show.
Btw I thought Madeline Brewer was fantastic on Friday. Her voice was beautiful, I was super impressed with her English accent as well. Very much enjoyed Callum Howell’s emcee as well. I can’t believe he is only 23. I think Fra Fee was a bit darker though, a bit grittier, especially played “If You Could See Her” a bit more chillingly. Still 5* from me :-)
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Post by alece10 on Oct 26, 2022 14:52:55 GMT
I went on Friday for my second visit, and was offered the shot of schnapps on the way in same as first time around. I went in a lot later (about 7.10) and it was quite rushed to get through - if it’s your first time I’d definitely recommend getting there earlier, think I went in about 6.40 first time and felt I had plenty of time to enjoy the prologue and explore the bars and everything that was going on before the show. Btw I thought Madeline Brewer was fantastic on Friday. Her voice was beautiful, I was super impressed with her English accent as well. Very much enjoyed Callum Howell’s emcee as well. I can’t believe he is only 23. I think Fra Fee was a bit darker though, a bit grittier, especially played “If You Could See Her” a bit more chillingly. Still 5* from me :-) I commented last week to one of the FOH staff about how good Madeline's accent was and she told me that Madeline was a bit concerned for the first few days and sometimes the accent dropped but she had been really working hard to get it right and I honestly think she has nailed it now.
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Post by stagey on Oct 31, 2022 15:06:22 GMT
Does anyone know any casting rumours for who's next once these 2 leave?
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 31, 2022 15:10:04 GMT
Remarkably they are cast already for the next pairing (which is way more organised than Cabaret has been with this stuff) - don't have names though I'm afraid.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 31, 2022 16:11:02 GMT
when are the next pair starting? I know Callum has Romeo and Julie lined up in February, but I'm not sure exactly when their last show is?
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 31, 2022 16:27:54 GMT
They finish on the 28th Jan
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 31, 2022 17:05:49 GMT
do we know if it's just the main two leaving or if we're getting a new Cliff/Schneider/Schultz too? I'm assuming the ensemble are staying the full year.
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 31, 2022 17:38:05 GMT
Only asked about Emcee and Sally - will investigate. I would imagine they're Schultz/Schneider/Cliff are staying as apart from Viv Parry they're relatively new to the show
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Post by ockey01 on Nov 2, 2022 12:25:03 GMT
I have tickets for Saturday matinee, but due to the train strikes the last train might be quite soon to the show ending. For those in the know, does it usually finish as close to 4:45pm as the website suggests?
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Post by andypandy on Nov 2, 2022 12:27:19 GMT
Is it true that they're no longer giving out a drink when you go in? From what I've heard, they are extremely understaffed. A friend of mine who used to work there said its a toxic environment and ushers are quitting. I went 3 weeks ago and received my token and had the free SCHNAAAPS! Fun. The show is phenomenal. 10/10
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Nov 2, 2022 12:40:52 GMT
I have tickets for Saturday matinee, but due to the train strikes the last train might be quite soon to the show ending. For those in the know, does it usually finish as close to 4:45pm as the website suggests? When I went a few weeks ago for a 7:30 evening show it finished at 10:16 so you should be ok
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Post by alece10 on Nov 2, 2022 15:54:56 GMT
I did a Wed matinee a couple of weeks ago. Started 2pm and we were out about 4.50pm
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Post by showtoones on Nov 11, 2022 23:55:02 GMT
When you go on ATG tickets, it will only let you buy a pair at the cabaret tabes in front. If I only wanted to buy 1 ticket, would they let me do so if I turned up at the Playhouse/ Kit Kat Klub box office?
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Post by alece10 on Nov 12, 2022 8:44:23 GMT
When you go on ATG tickets, it will only let you buy a pair at the cabaret tabes in front. If I only wanted to buy 1 ticket, would they let me do so if I turned up at the Playhouse/ Kit Kat Klub box office? My guess would be yes if you turned up before the show and the table wasn't sold. Netter to get some revenue than nothing st all. And as far as I know they don't upgrade people if the tables are empty. I was there a few weeks ago for a matinee and all the tables on one side were empty, looked a bit odd.
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Post by westendgurl on Nov 14, 2022 22:46:54 GMT
I managed to catch the show last week and wow it's incredible! I thought Callum and Madeline were brilliant and I'll be sorry to see them go. The whole production just gave me chills.
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 16, 2022 11:21:05 GMT
The new leads are underwhelming. Madeline Brewer quite clearly lacks stage experience, giving stitled deliveries and seeming to read out punctuation as well, and offers no characterization beyond being prim. They had got it so right with Amy Lennox. Callum SH has opted for going HAM, and seems to have taken a couple of notes from Will Young, which is not a good thing in my book. They've punched up the Two Ladies staging, which he benefits from. Everything else still works as wonderfully as it has always done. Michelle Bishop is a great, great new Kost. I really liked the new-to-me Richard Katz as Schultz. wondering now whether I should hang on for the next cast change! I did wonder if CSH would play it like Will Young - who I've seen twice, enjoyed - but want to see a different take. And if La Brewer is giving a technical performance like this, it'll drive me mad!!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Nov 18, 2022 0:17:31 GMT
Back again tonight and didn't get given a drinks token. Feels a little random as to when they're giving one out?
Had Matthew Gent as the Emcee and Emily Benjamin as Sally and both were fantastic.
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Post by playingdangerous on Nov 29, 2022 19:08:05 GMT
Any new info on the next Sally and Emcee?
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Post by theatrefan77 on Nov 29, 2022 19:54:14 GMT
I don't think they've been cast yet
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Post by theatrenerd on Nov 29, 2022 22:27:39 GMT
Thought it may be worth mentioning the cast will be on this year’s Royal Variety Performance (ITV1 on 20 Dec) and Callum and Madeline will be on The Graham Norton Show New Year’s Eve Special performing “Wilkommen” and “Don’t Tell Mamma”. How exciting!
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Post by theplayer on Dec 4, 2022 0:10:04 GMT
Although I prefer plays to musicals, I've always really liked Cabaret. It has an edginess and underlying melancholy that really appeals to me.
Cabaret is the only show of which I have ever seen more than one production. I saw a production at the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in July 2007.
I attended Saturday's matinee at the Playhouse.
The set design is amazing! The attention to detail is great. They really managed to capture the vibe of the Kit Kat Club.
Madeline Brewer is superb as Sally Bowles. The actor who played the Emcee is the understudy to Callum Scott Howells, who was ill. His name escapes me.
The rest of the cast are also great.
I must admit, while this production does retain the show's inherent raunchy nature, it is less risque than the aforementioned 2007 production, which featured nudity.
I really enjoyed it!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Dec 4, 2022 0:33:56 GMT
Matthew Gent You also had the debut of the Herr Schultz understudy Grant Neal!
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Post by mattnyc on Dec 4, 2022 14:34:22 GMT
I feel like I need to express just how much i adored Madeline’s Sally. Having seen the others before her in this production I think Madeline is far and away the best so far, to me. In fact, having seen all but one Sally from thr Mendes revival on Broadway I’d say Madeline is one of the better Sally’s I’ve ever seen.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 4, 2022 15:17:17 GMT
I feel like I need to express just how much i adored Madeline’s Sally. Having seen the others before her in this production I think Madeline is fat and away the best so far, to me. In fact, having seen all but one Sally from thr Mendes revival on Broadway I’d say Madeline is one of the better Sally’s I’ve ever seen. She won’t like being called fat I’m sure
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Post by mattnyc on Dec 4, 2022 16:18:16 GMT
lolol. Obvious typo. I’m sure she’ll forgive me.
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