CABARET at the Kit Kat Club (2024) Opening Night Critics' Reviews- Page 11

[Eddie3]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 9:42am

I wonder if the negative Cabaret reviews bode poorly for the upcoming Sunset Blvd. production. It's an enjoyable production, but I wonder if it, too, suffers from too much shtick, which may be called out in New York.

 

 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 1:16pm

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-uglification-of-everything-art-theater-tv-repulsive-turn-7aba4363?st=diefntiig5qgqfa&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 1:17pm

Eddie3 said: "I wonder if the negative Cabaret reviews bode poorly for the upcoming Sunset Blvd. production. It's an enjoyable production, but I wonder if it, too, suffers from too much shtick, which may be called out in New York."

I think the biggest differences to keep in mind here are that 1) we’ve never gotten a major revival of Sunset Boulevard in NYC before that wasn’t basically a concert mounting of the original, and 2) Cabaret is a much more well-known and respected entry in the musical theatre canon than Sunset. While Sunset has its ardent fans, it doesn’t have the same pedigree as Cabaret; nor does it have the same baggage of “been there, done that” from so much overexposure.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 1:22pm

Any update on understudies for tonight?

[Kad]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 1:29pm

MezzA101 said: "https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-uglification-of-everything-art-theater-tv-repulsive-turn-7aba4363?st=diefntiig5qgqfa&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink"

Regardless of one's opinion on this production of Cabaret, it's rich for someone like Peggy Noonan to be bemoaning ugliness in culture.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 2:12pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "Eddie3 said: "I wonder if the negative Cabaret reviews bode poorly for the upcoming Sunset Blvd. production. It's an enjoyable production, but I wonder if it, too, suffers from too much shtick, which may be called out in New York."

I think the biggest differences to keep in mind here are that 1) we’ve never gotten a major revival of Sunset Boulevard in NYC before that wasn’t basically a concert mounting of the original, and 2) Cabaret is a much more well-known and respected entry in the musical theatre canon than Sunset. While Sunset has its ardent fans, it doesn’t have the same pedigree as Cabaret; nor does it have the same baggage of “been there, done that” from so much overexposure."

I also think there is another difference, not actually having seen either.  Sunset went for a minimalist approach, which puts the focus on the music and the performances, also eliminating songs that most people never much cared for.  Based on my readings, it sounds like Cabaret went  ‘over the top for scenes in the Cabaret.  That is a huge difference.

[Eddie3]

Posted: 4/26/24 at 10:19pm

Jarethan said: "ColorTheHours048 said: "Eddie3 said: "I wonder if the negative Cabaret reviews bode poorly for the upcoming Sunset Blvd. production. It's an enjoyable production, but I wonder if it, too, suffers from too much shtick, which may be called out in New York."

I think the biggest differences to keep in mind here are that 1) we’ve never gotten a major revival of Sunset Boulevard in NYC before that wasn’t basically a concert mounting of the original, and 2) Cabaret is a much more well-known and respected entry in the musical theatre canon than Sunset. While Sunset has its ardent fans, it doesn’t have the same pedigree as Cabaret; nor does it have the same baggage of “been there, done that” from so much overexposure."

I also think there is another difference, not actually having seen either. Sunset went for a minimalist approach, which puts the focus on the music and the performances, also eliminating songs that most people never much cared for. Based on my readings, it sounds like Cabaret went ‘over the top for scenes in the Cabaret. That is a huge difference."

Perhaps another reason why Sunset might not suffer the same fate is that it's just not as good a show as Cabaret, so liberties/interpretations might be more welcome. I actually thought the Jamie Lloyd production was fine, not great though, much as I admire the director, having seen at least ten of his productions.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 5:15am

I….thought this production was quite remarkable.

[BJR]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 1:08pm

Also worth noting London didn't get that Mendes/Marshall revival. (They got an earlier Mendes solo version in 1993.) So, it has been 30 years since they've seen Cabaret.

In the US, it's only been 10 since the revival of the revival. When the 1998 revival happened, it had only been 12 years, but that was an unsuccessful revival by Prince in the 80s. So, it had been 30 years since an acclaimed production.

It's likely Americans are not only doing that thing of being overly protective of American musicals but also one they've seen done successfully fairly recently. Brits haven't. Seems that would explain the difference in reception right there.

 

[theatreguy]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 1:15pm

BJR said: "Also worth noting London didn't get that Mendes/Marshall revival. (They got an earlier Mendes solo version in 1993.) So, it has been 30 years since they've seen Cabaret."

Well, no. There was a West End production directed by Rufus Norris that played for almost 2 years from 2006 to 2008, and then returned for a few months in 2012 and 2013.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 2:26pm

TotallyEffed said: "I….thought this production was quite remarkable."

Care to elaborate? The folks who liked this seem outnumbered so I'm more curious to hear from those who enjoyed it. I don't see it until June...

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 3:05pm

FANtomFollies said: "TotallyEffed said: "I….thought this production was quite remarkable."

Care to elaborate? The folks who liked this seem outnumbered so I'm more curious to hear from those who enjoyed it. I don't see it until June..."

 

Where to even begin? Just a note, I haven't read any of the reviews on this board or what the critics said, I wanted to go in fresh because I have avoided reading about this production for years and have been very patient waiting for it to finally transfer. It became clear to me this week that the reviews were less than favorable and now that I've seen the production I am very interested to read them...

It is clearer than ever after seeing it last night that this is one of the best musicals ever written. I hope it is staged for centuries to come. The score, the book, these characters... is it just stupendous. I feel very lucky this is playing in New York right now, it is really a fantastic experience.

The physical production is remarkable. The transformation of the theatre is jaw dropping. The lighting on the stage as well as in the theatre during the pre-show is so well done. The costumes, especially the Emcee's, are stunning and truly walk the line between costume and legitimate fashion which I find quite rare in the theatre. I always cringe when costume designers try to be "edgy" and end up looking super dated and lame. The costume and make up design in this is flawless and visually stunning.

Eddie has an undeniable star quality. He just looks so amazing up on that stage in those costumes and what he is doing physically. He brings a disturbing and menacing quality that is absolutely magnetic. His singing voice is extremely bizarre at times (I thought he sounded just horrible in Les Miserables) but I can forgive the Kermit quality to his voice because he is the anchor of this production and his presence makes it feel like even more of an event.

Bebe blew me away. I became overwhelmed with emotion and started crying quite intensely before she even sang the first note of "What Would You Do?" because I felt so deeply for her character. This production is disturbing in a way that made me feel suffocated even as I walked through that strange garbage strewn alleyway. When the threat of Nazism starts to creep in, the feeling of a claustrophobic fight or flight sensation bubbles up and I just wanted to yell at the characters on stage to hop on a train and escape as soon as they could. The theatre even feels a little dangerous in the sense that I have been in it many times, and I legitimately had no idea where I was. It was very exciting but quite discombobulating. It really enhanced the feeling of being in a strange, sexy environment but feeling a sense of unavoidable, impending doom. Bebe was the emotional centerpiece for me. A woman who is simply trying to survive and who has to make brutal decisions to ensure her survival. I'd give Bebe her third Tony.

Casting a Sally who isn't a Hollywood star made the show feel like much of an of ensemble piece. It evened the playing field a bit and I thought all the leads were very good.

There are a few coup de théâtre moments in this production that made me gasp. The costume design and new take on 'I Don't Care Much" made me sit up in my seat and gasp. I have my own interpretation of it and it's what solidified my enthusiasm for this production. I don't want to spoiler for anyone but I can elaborate if someone is curious. The ending of "If You Could See Her" elicited a reaction from the audience that was so authentic and ultimately so deeply disturbing that I felt a lump immediately seize my throat and tears filled my eyes. I'll never forget it.

If the Mendes production is definitive (I saw it twice and was absolutely obsessed with it), this one subverts the material even further and made me see some of the songs as if for the first time. I know the show and score intimately, so to be feeling like I was seeing a legitimately new take on it, and having it resonate so effectively, was very exciting.

Are tickets to this production obscenely overpriced? Yes. Is it a perfect production? Maybe not.

But this is the first show since Here We Are that made me sit up in my seat and marvel at the miracle of theatre. This production feels absolutely unmissable to me and I would give it Best Revival in a heartbeat (I love this production of Merrily and saw it in London a decade ago, off-Broadway and on Broadway). This season was jam-packed but mostly a let down. This spring the only musicals that I felt were truly special were Illinoise and now Cabaret.

Updated On: 4/28/24 at 03:05 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 3:55pm

FANtomFollies said: "Care to elaborate? The folks who liked this seem outnumbered so I'm more curious to hear from those who enjoyed it. I don't see it until June..."

You may want to check out the Broadway board on Reddit. The reviews there are largely positive, and negative ones are firmly downvoted.

[east side story]

Posted: 4/27/24 at 11:50pm

Saw this production this evening, and it is absolutely wonderful. Saw it London with the opening night cast, which I found stunning, and the NY iteration is worth seeing. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 10:17am

east side story said: "Saw this production this evening, and it is absolutely wonderful. Saw it London with the opening night cast, which I found stunning, and the NY iteration is worth seeing."

Was at the matinee yesterday! This is still, BY FAR, the greatest theatrical experience of my life! I am so happy I FINALLY got to see Eddie as the Emcee, and boy, did he not disappoint! The people around me were in complete shock because they'd never seen anything like it before! I enjoyed this just as much as London and maybe even better. Who knows! 

[All So Ozmopolitan]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 12:15pm

TotallyEffed, thank you for sharing those thoughts! I saw this production on Broadway very early on and had the same reaction as you. But then I read the reviews and heard mediocre word-of-mouth, so I started entirely second-guessing my initial thoughts and wondered what production I saw that could cause such polarizing feedback... I guess that's the beauty of Cabaret. It was difficult to gather my opinion, but you managed to do so eloquently so thanks for helping me stand firm in the success of this production! 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 12:40pm

I'm a positive vote as well.   Did I prefer the origninal Mendes? Yes.  Did I prefer the ARTs version with Amanda Palmer as the Emcee?  Hell, yes.

I don't even disagree with most of the critics comments - I was able to still be taken on the journey and be fulfilled.   

 

Totally rooting for Bebe to get a Tony nomination and even the win.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 4:27pm

https://variety.com/2024/legit/columns/cabaret-broadway-revival-reviews-male-critics-gayle-rankin-1235984887/#recipient_hashed=bcb67c2711d628387f045db3518221bd5ed178f4e4c2f399d0538a827b1aa7ad&recipient_salt=04f4c96625f0da735542bcec5f6a7b2ae30c104b0600175621c5a99e27a72d09&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_content=517581_04-28-2024&utm_term=284729

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 4:38pm

MezzA101 said: "https://variety.com/2024/legit/columns/cabaret-broadway-revival-reviews-male-critics-gayle-rankin-1235984887/#recipient_hashed=bcb67c2711d628387f045db3518221bd5ed178f4e4c2f399d0538a827b1aa7ad&recipient_salt=04f4c96625f0da735542bcec5f6a7b2ae30c104b0600175621c5a99e27a72d09&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_content=517581_04-28-2024&utm_term=284729"

Plenty of actresses playing Sally have gotten glowing reviews from male critics over the decades. It seems pretty dismissive of every other actress who's played the role to say that Rankin's Sally is just too "raw" and "real" for the critics to understand. It also ignores the fact that much of the criticism towards Rankin's Sally has been that her over-the-top performance obscures the emotional complexity of the character.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 5:05pm

The "male critics are mean; women critics would be nice" brigade really isn't giving up this season, are they? 

Of course several of the mixed and negative reviews came from women critics--Holdren for Vulture, Merrill for New York Theatre Guide, Gardner for NY Sun. 

It hasn't been posted yet, but Elisabeth Vincentelli dropped a joint review of Mary Jane, Uncle Vanya, Mother Play, and Cabaret for the Washington Post on Thursday. She didn't like it either.

"Sometimes star power works onstage and sometimes it doesn’t. Which brings me to Eddie Redmayne.

Redmayne won an Oscar for “The Theory of Everything” and leads the “Fantastic Beasts” movies, but he is no stranger to the stage, and won a Tony in 2010 for his Broadway debut in “Red.” Now he’s back as one of the most outlandishly theatrical characters in existence: the Emcee in “Cabaret.”

Rebecca Frecknall’s immersive revival was described as audaciously dark when it opened in London in December 2021. The transfer now playing at the August Wilson Theatre, transformed into the Kit Kat Club after an extensive renovation, is overall trying way too hard, and so is Redmayne. This smug show doesn’t have enough edge to cut through cottage cheese.

In this version, the Emcee is a diabolical imp who rules over a decadent Weimar Berlin underworld, reflecting the destructive force about to take over Germany — he is not just an entertainer having wicked fun in some louche nightclub but an instigator and collaborator. It’s an interesting take, but Redmayne’s performance is so relentlessly stylized and so hampered by the songs’ glacial pace that it curls into itself like a desiccated husk. It felt impossible that “Cabaret,” of all shows, could ever be dull. That this production so relentlessly is must count as a feat of some kind."

Updated On: 4/28/24 at 05:05 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 4/28/24 at 6:34pm

Watching the producer on this spin themselves into knots to pushback on the terrible critic reception has been absolutely wild to watch. 

"Critics don't get it"

It is not just critics, I know several regular audience members who saw it and disliked it and the night we went there were more people still sitting at the end during the bows then were standing and applauding. 

[SellingOut]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 10:42am

Updated On: 4/29/24 at 10:42 AM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 11:50am

Gayle Rankin scheduled for Colbert tonight.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 3:24pm

They’re already practically sold out through September.  All this promotion i guess is for future performances even when they’re gone? 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 3:33pm

Broadway Flash said: "They’re already practically sold out through September. All this promotion, I guess, is for future performances even when they’re gone?"

This show is not going anywhere any time soon. They are gonna do what they've done with the London production and rotate celebrities in the starring roles. With all the time spent reconfiguring this theatre, they are likely gonna run for a long time.