Amanda Palmer as the Emcee in A.R.T's "Cabaret" — Page 3

Yay, I'm glad you saw it!

I agree with you about Cliff. He didn't work for me at all. There was no chemistry between he and Sally, either, and I don't think it was a "Cliff's gay" lack of chemistry, it was just "Cliff is a singing piece of cardboard." It's a shame because I think I give that role a lot more credit than most people do, and in this production, they could have done a lot with him.

But AGGGGH AMANDA. I think her Emcee is one of those performances I will always regret not getting to see more than once. I just love her so.

What did you think of the ending?

Also, Namo, I would like to acknowledge the brilliance of your avatar.

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SPOILER!

I saw the second (I think?) preview, but I don't think it's changed. So, Emcee does the whole, "Where are your troubles now? Forgotten, I told you so!" thing, and on "Even the orchestra is beautiful," the sound gets all cacophonous and the orchestra is gone. S/he gets back up on stage, where there are three doors. "Auf Wiedersehen," she opens the first door. The orchestra players are all packed inside, clutching their instruments. "A bientot," she opens the second door. Inside is the girl who played Hansel (usually Hans), who also doubled as the "young" soprano for Tomorrow Belongs To Me (which they do really, really beautifully -- there's a great production shot of it). Then she goes to the other side of the stage and opens the third door. You see all of the dancers, naked, painted totally white, gazing up toward something in fear (there's a parallel to the opening, which pointed to this happening). Gas chamber. They're all huddled up together. Emcee strips naked, joins them. Gas gets emitted, they die. Then they all slowly emerge from the door, and move really slowly across the stage as the music changes; unfortunately I don't know exactly what it is they were playing, but I believe it was a Yiddish song. Lights down, and that's it.

I think it's fine that they went there. I just thought that dragging it out might have actually taken AWAY from the impact you could get. I mean, it left me numb, and made me feel totally sick, like the ending to Cabaret should. But I almost think I would have appreciated it more if Emcee had just opened the door, you saw that, goodbye and lights out. Showing so much of it, to me, gives the audience too much time with it. If you give them too much time to look at it, you're allowing them time to "deal with" it in a very different way. You get time to get used to it, as opposed to having it shown to you and just leaving you alone with that. Although that feeling, personally, may just be coming from what I am used to seeing. It's certainly effective, it's just not what I would have done. Does that make sense?

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Updated On: 10/2/10 at 01:54 PM

It's changed just a tad, nothing much worth noting specifically. The "hand choreography" is the same as one of the opening moments in the train light. For me, I knew at that instant it would also be the final moment.

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I wondered about the impact it might have on audience members that DON'T really know what the show is about. I'm sure it's quite powerful.

Another moment that I found worked BEAUTIFULLY was the Nazi party affiliation realization at the end of Act I. Horrifyingly beautiful.

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I loved the music direction of the show. So much of it felt...well....new.

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I was there for the 10:30 show last night, and it was probably the most overwhelming experience I've ever had. I mean that in a good way, because I like feeling as though my emotions are connected to the actors and to the setting.

Oberon really out-did themselves when it came to the atmosphere of the Kit Kat Klub. The only way I can describe is this: it was the closest I will ever be to being in a Weimar Germany period cabaret.

The actors, set, music, and costumes were spot on. The use of space was incredibly imaginative - a few times I had no idea where to look! Do I look over in this corner to see the Emcee sneaking away or do I look over to the ledge and watch Sally and Cliff? I liked that they did this, to keep the audience always aware.

Amanda was outstanding, and having never seen her before live, this was a magical thing to me. Her choices were unique and fit the character perfectly, she was whatever the Emcee should be - funny when needed, scary when needed, cracking a joke here and there to make everyone laugh, she captured the essence of that role in a way I have never seen before. There were times when she'd make an awkward smile or gesture, in hopes that it would appease the audience. I liked that a lot. She also brought a terrifying side to it as well, especially with Hans and "Tomorrow Belongs To Me". It was almost sadistic. There was a heart breaking quality to her performance as well, with "I Don't Care Much". You could see the pain and fear in her face, the not knowing of what's to come, the desperation when she re introduced Sally, as if trying to convince us all there was still happiness in the club. It was real. It wasn't just "I'm going to play sad now", it was the most moving thing I've ever seen.

I'm still trying to get my bearings, because it was so emotionally overwhelming that I'm probably forgetting to mention some things. I will say that I did love "If You Could See Her". It was far more chilling than the '98 version and definitely moreso than the original. I almost felt as though it was not just a satire, but also getting on a psychological level when the mask is lifted and you see a chorus girl covered in bruises. It's as if to say "Yes, Germany is changing and the club is changing too, and we don't appreciate anyone who is different from us." (At leas that's what I got, once again, still trying to get my bearings on the whole experience...so forgive my mind!)

The ending was also different, but powerful. I literally stared at the stage for a good minute or two after it happened, trying to digest what I had just seen.

I'll say this as well, when Aly Trasher (Sally) sang "Cabaret" and threw down the microphone stand at the end, I felt this emotional surge projected from her to where I was sitting. I don't know if anyone else who went felt this...hopefully the way I worded it makes sense.

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Updated On: 10/30/10 at 03:45 PM

Amanda tweeted that they did a (live, I believe) recording of the show and it should be out in a few months.

Have an amazing time tonight!! I'm seeing them in a few weeks in Chicago.

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The openers are different in every city.

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