CABARET sets closing with Porter and Wallace to star- Page 6

[binau]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 3:09pm

Well, I guess The Distinctive Baritone you would be exactly the kind of person he would be referring to. People who haven't seen the show and have such strong feelings that Billy 'deserves the hate?'

I don't think Billy deserves any hate if he is lame in the role. God he is trying his best (I think he succeeds personally, I know I'm in the minority but I would also say I have good tastes). He is putting 100% into this performance physically, emotionally, vocally. It might not be enough for everyone but we don't have to talk about it as if he has assaulted us or something lol. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 3:10pm

...

[Idiot]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 3:13pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "What a fitting username."

Thank you!  It's a personal joke referring to what one has to be to pursue a life in the arts as I have, but I'm thrilled that you got it!

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 3:25pm

Duplicate

Updated On: 8/15/25 at 03:25 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 3:34pm

quizking101 said: "binau said: "Well, I guess The Distinctive Baritone you would be exactly the kind of person he would be referring to. People who haven't seen the show and have such strong feelings that Billy 'deserves the hate?'

I don't think Billy deserves any hate if he is lame in the role. God he is trying his best (I think he succeeds personally, I know I'm in the minority but I would also say I have good tastes). He is putting 100% into this performance physically, emotionally, vocally. It might not be enough for everyonebut we don't have to talk about it as if he has assaulted us or something lol."

You can still put 100% into something and it still come out terrible if the right ingredients aren’t there. It’s like cooking. I could spend hours on making sure my pasta sauce comes out the perfect texture, but if I’m overdoing it on the spices, then it’s not going to be edible or easy to enjoy."

I have no disagreement that he isn’t throwing his whole self into the role, but whatever choices he’s made for the sake of creating his character, he’s doing WAYYYYY too much and trying to turn an otherwise simple but malleable role into a overly specific creation he can call his own. But if he’s gonna own it, then he’s gotta take the criticism with the compliments.

By the way, it’s not like a black Emcee hasn’t existed before. I saw Layton Williams do it on the West End and he was able to bring his own personal sparkle to the role that made it distinctly his without trying to rewrite the whole character.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 3:42pm

Singing famous, iconic songs in one of the best musicals ever written and changing half the notes isn’t “giving 100%,” it’s being an a**hole.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 5:14pm

Hearing murmurings that the closing is moving up to Labor Day weekend...

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 8/15/25 at 5:35pm

Judging by the seating chart for next week I would close it also

[Kad]

Posted: 8/16/25 at 12:30pm

Out of curiosity I looked at tickets for today's performances- despite the ATG site saying there is "limited" availability, the matinee seems maybe 40% sold and the evening performance is maybe at half. Tomorrow is even worse and next weekend seems basically empty. There is no way they can sustain for two more months with these sales. 

 I didn't think Porter would be selling out the place, but I didn't think it would be this bad. He is simply not at all a draw here- I can't imagine it being worse with a total unknown in the role. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/16/25 at 2:29pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Hearing murmurings that the closing is moving up to Labor Day weekend..."

Same. There is no reason for this misfire of a show to keep going. Then it can disappear for 20 years since this revival proved we don't need another Cabaret every decade. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/16/25 at 7:00pm

They really thought not having to redo marketing materials for them was going to make Billy's salary worth it...

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/16/25 at 7:09pm

It sounds as though he’s not just a non-draw, but that people who might have seen it with any-old-Emcee are actively, intentionally not going to see it because of Billy. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 8/16/25 at 10:38pm

Sutton Ross said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Hearing murmurings that the closing is moving up to Labor Day weekend..."

Same. There is no reason for this misfire of a show to keep going. Then it can disappear for 20 years since this revival proved we don't need another Cabaret every decade."

 

If some shows like "Lion King" which with the exception of the first five minutes, you couldn't pay me to sit through again and other long running shows can last decades, then I hope "Cabaret" one of the best musicals ever written, whose themes are more relevant today than ever, comes back whenever anyone wants to produce it.

 

I actually won lottery tickets this week when i was in town for my medical checkups and to see "Masquerade".  We ended up in table seats which I loved. Quite frankly while he was my least favorite MC ( I saw Orville and Adam), I don't see why people hate Billy Porters performance. I am so glad I saw it again, the fact we ended up in table seats for $30 was a plus.  Marisha was outstanding and Ellen Harvey and Steven Skybell continue to be an absolute marvel. I'd rather see a mediocre production of Cabaret than a lot of the shows now playing on Broadway.

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/17/25 at 9:56am

Wow yeah, the coming Weds matinee and evening have hardly anything sold. At this rate there’ll be more people backstage than in the house. 

Wouldn’t be surprised if the next gross report has Cabaret between 350-450k. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/17/25 at 1:42pm

If some shows like "Lion King" which with the exception of the first five minutes, you couldn't pay me to sit through again and other long running shows can last decades, then I hope "Cabaret" one of the best musicals ever written, whose themes are more relevant today than ever, comes back whenever anyone wants to produce it.

I actually won lottery tickets this week when i was in town for my medical checkups and to see "Masquerade". We ended up in table seats which I loved. Quite frankly while he was my least favorite MC ( I saw Orville and Adam), I don't see why people hate Billy Porters performance. I am so glad I saw it again, the fact we ended up in table seats for $30 was a plus. Marisha was outstanding and Ellen Harvey and Steven Skybell continue to be an absolute marvel. I'd rather see a mediocre production of Cabaret than a lot of the shows now playing on Broadway.

Well, The Lion King is a true masterpiece that's fun for all ages. I grew up with Garth Fagan dance ensemble in town, so I got to see similar choreography. Cabaret is something I can appreciate but not really enjoy. I saw it with Alan and Michelle a decade ago and the performances were very special. I recently saw the current cast who were all extraordinary. People attacking Billy aren't rational, it's just based off racism, homophobia, or simple ignorance. It's easy to hate a successful man that has overcome so much and still continues to give back to the community. Those same people have defended Scott Rudin (ew) so put no stock into their opinions; they truly don't matter.

In my mind, Cabaret won't be produced often because as shows get more and more expensive, I think people will be cautious investing any money into this considering this revival was a failure. It didn't matter who was in the cast (and still doesn't), this revival got mixed reviews by both critics and patrons alike and it just fell flat. That being said, I will visit the Kit Kat Klub once more this coming week since I've heard, sadly, from two people now that it's closing before October. Glad you enjoyed it! 

Updated On: 8/17/25 at 01:42 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/17/25 at 2:24pm

It would be great if Billy did not check out consistently "check out" throughout the show.  It's clear he does not want to be there.  His t 4th wall breaks and referring to the audience as "bitches" 3-4 times while begging the audience to applaud is ridiculously negative. the approach is seeping into the ensemble members characters/performance - in a bad way.  trickle down negativity. 

All 3 Cliff's we've seen are not good.  Strangely, bad actors (and sometimes singers).

Meanwhile, Marisha is doing the best work of any Sally in this production.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 2:34pm

Billy supposedly sang “If you could see her through my eyes, she wouldn’t be Jewish at all” at a performance this weekend.

Uh oh.

This clip doesn’t contain audio of the moment but I’m sure it won’t be long. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/s/KTjc78D50n

[binau]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 2:40pm

This is quickly becoming one of the most infamous performances in recent times. 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 2:48pm

That just seems like an unfortunate lyric slip up (and it, tbh, doesn't  alter the meaning of the song or is even  particularly worse than the original lyric to me- the song is supposed to end with an antisemitic punchline). His ad-libbing and other excesses are far more egregious.

Updated On: 8/18/25 at 02:48 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 2:49pm

binau said: "This is quickly becoming one of the most infamous performances in recent times."

Yes they’d have almost been better off with Terry Mann c. 2003. But definitely not with Boy George c. 2024…

Updated On: 8/18/25 at 02:49 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 3:23pm

CoffeeBreak said: "It would be great if Billy did not check out consistently "check out" throughout the show. It's clear he does not want to be there. His t 4th wall breaks and referring to the audience as "bitches" 3-4 times while begging the audience to applaudis ridiculously negative. the approach is seeping into the ensemble members characters/performance - in a bad way. trickle down negativity.

All 3 Cliff's we've seen are not good. Strangely, bad actors (and sometimes singers).

Cliff is more of an acting role than a singing role. I personally very much disliked Ato Blankson-Wood, but it was because he felt like a cardboard cutout next to Gayle Rankin in full-tilt mania. Calvin Leon Smith brings a more believable pathos to the role of an outsider navigating Weimar Germany and trying to reconcile it with his sexuality. He is also able to engage with Sally in a more push-pull power dynamic that the role requires. Same with Pedro Garza (to a lesser extent).

But everything about Billy is painfully accurate. He claims to have done the research about the black existence in Weimar/Nazi Germany, but seemed intent on turning the Emcee into Pray Tell from POSE. His asides/breaks, and referring to the audiences as bitches was a red flag the first time and then just an unforgivable travesty from thereon.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 4:12pm

Sutton Ross said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Hearing murmurings that the closing is moving up to Labor Day weekend..."

Same. There is no reason for this misfire of a show to keep going. Then it can disappear for 20 years since this revival proved we don't need another Cabaret every decade."

I agree. ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Cabaret’ are just two shows that come to mind that need to be given a much needed rest.

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/18/25 at 4:15pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Billy doesn’t do things as written, dahling. He does what he feels because he is iconic, he is the moment, he is legend, he is everything.


Or whatever BS he pays someone to tell him when he wakes up every day."

^ This right here is so damn funny and so on point. LMFAO!!! I spit out my beverage reading this! Thanks Jordan!!!! 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/19/25 at 1:20pm

Grosses for last week are out. Auf wiedersehen, a bientot to Cabaret: just $497,926.70.

[binau]

Posted: 8/19/25 at 1:50pm

This is going to really hurt Billy’s career. I wonder if he will ever find the right vehicle to return to Broadway in a musical again. Maybe he will redeem himself in La Cage.