CABARET sets closing with Porter and Wallace to star- Page 9

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 12:43pm

He was scheduled out (per production) :

Aug. 21st, 22nd (David Merino on).  23rd (both shows), 24th (Marty Lauter on). 5 shows. 

He was unscheduled out:

Aug. 20th (both shows). Lauter on August 26th, 27th(both shows) & 28th.  6 shows.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 1:51pm

Billy's fans over on Reddit are trying so desperately to defend him. 🤣

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 2:07pm

ACL2006 said: "Billy's fans over on Reddit are trying so desperately to defend him. 🤣"

I didn't realize he had any fans on Reddit. I've only seen glee that he's out. 

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 2:44pm

ACL2006 said: "Billy's fans over on Reddit are trying so desperately to defend him. 🤣"

I didn't know they had a reddit account. Probably, consumes a lot of his time ,posting things in his defense. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 3:00pm

Dom P said: "ACL2006 said: "Billy's fans over on Reddit are trying so desperately to defend him. 🤣"

I didn't know they had a reddit account. Probably, consumes a lot of his time ,posting things in his defense."

It's the Broadway Reddit page. It's essentially people saying "LEAVE BILLY ALONE!".

[Kad]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 3:16pm

I bet we'll start to see much more of a push of Marisha in the press to change the narrative here and get the focus away from Porter. 

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 3:22pm

I don’t know why they didn’t push for Marisha at the beginning. She’s phenomenal. She’s no Sally Bowles but she’s just a powerhouse amazing performer. In fact, I’m going back to see her again. 
 

And FYI, I actually liked Billy Porter in the role. He minimizes that weird choreography and relates a lot more to the audience. His cabaret training shows and he’s very likable and fun. His voice may be a little weary, but he makes it work.  “I Don’t Care Much” is actually quite lovely.  

 

The Production is still a mess and still weird and still silly. It’s really not Cabaret at all.  

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 5:15pm

Skip23 said: "
And FYI, I actually liked Billy Porter in the role. He minimizes that weird choreography and relates a lot more to the audience. His cabaret training shows and he’s very likable and fun. His voice may be a little weary, but he makes it work. “I Don’t Care Much” is actually quite lovely.

I feel like herein lies the divide that polarizes the masses here. Billy is talented, but this isn’t “Billy Porter’s Cabaret”. He can use his cabaret chops all he wants, but that puts him at odds with a production that has already been conceived and in motion for years now - “weird choreography” intact.

For any production of Cabaret, I’m not seeking amiable, crowd-friendly Emcee. I need someone seedy, seductive and/or creepy. He is more than welcome to create a production that might better fit his vision as a whole, but this scenario sees him doing all but a hostile takeover of an established production. His idea might have merit…but not in this universe.

 

[Angel of Harlem]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 5:20pm

There’s some utter horrible people on here.

can we not respect someone for a while- I’ve never seen so much bile and hatred.

its obvious he’s off sick - respect that - I can’t believe people are even joking about ‘ptown’- it’s unbelievable- have we as a society come to this?

I honestly believe it’s a repsonse to Trump of whoever allowing open racial and homophobic abuse to go unchallenged. 
shame on most of you on here.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 5:39pm

Apropos of nothing, here’s a handy link to the block function. 

Updated On: 8/28/25 at 05:39 PM

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 7:04pm

Angel of Harlem said: "There’s some utter horrible people on here.

can we not respect someone for a while- I’ve never seen so much bile and hatred.

its obvious he’s off sick - respect that - I can’t believe people are even joking about ‘ptown’- it’s unbelievable- have we as a society come to this?

I honestly believe it’s a repsonse to Trump of whoever allowing open racial and homophobic abuse to go unchallenged.
shame on most of you on here."

Billy, is that you? Seriously, you joined just to make this garbage post? Nothing lobbed against Billy has been racial or homophobic. And most people on here, with the exception of a couple of lunatic trolls, hate Trump. 

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 11:13pm

QUIZZKING101 SAYS:

"For any production of Cabaret, I’m not seeking amiable, crowd-friendly Emcee. I need someone seedy, seductive and/or creepy. He is more than welcome to create a production that might better fit his vision as a whole, but this scenario sees him doing all but a hostile takeover of an established production. His idea might have merit…but not in this universe."
 

Porter wasn't particularly amiable (in fact, outright nasty) nor crowd-friendly (whatever that means in this context.  He definitely wasn't friendly - and that's why I liked him).  In fact, he was seedy, seductive and/or creepy.  THAT's why I liked him.  No hostile takeover.  In fact, that overblown, monstrosity of a production basically takes over everyone in the cast - except for the Hugely talented Marisha     Question:  did you even SEE this iteration?   Or are you just scratching the Porter-potty itch?  

 

 

Updated On: 8/28/25 at 11:13 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 11:38pm

Skip23 said: "QUIZZKING101 SAYS:

"For any production of Cabaret, I’m not seeking amiable, crowd-friendly Emcee. I need someone seedy, seductive and/or creepy. He is more than welcome to create a production that might better fit his vision as a whole, but this scenario sees him doing all but a hostile takeover of an established production. His idea might have merit…but not in this universe."


Porter wasn't particularly amiable (in fact, outright nasty) nor crowd-friendly (whatever that means in this context. He definitely wasn't friendly - and that's why I liked him). In fact, he was seedy, seductive and/or creepy. THAT's why I liked him. No hostile takeover. In fact, that overblown, monstrosity of a production basically takes over everyone in the cast - except for the Hugely talented Marisha Question: did you even SEE this iteration? Or are you just scratching the Porter-potty itch?



"

I have - 10 times - on both sides of the Atlantic - with 7 different Emcees under my belt. I stand firm in my assertion that Porter really blew it here. You’re entitled to your opinion, but even a cursory scroll to last nights comments would tell you that, yes, I have seen this production and what a ludicrous question.

You quite literally said “He minimizes that weird choreography and relates a lot more to the audience. His cabaret training shows and he’s very likable and fun” - which definitely reads as if he is likable and easy to swallow by the audience. 

[Birdie Boy]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 12:07am

The choreo is definitely horrible.  The costumes are horrible too.  Everytime Sally and Cliff are onstage it’s horrible. I’m fine with the emcee, I think he’s the only decent part of the show because he’s outside the story

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 12:32am

quizking101 said: "Skip23 said: "QUIZZKING101 SAYS:

"For any production of Cabaret, I’m not seeking amiable, crowd-friendly Emcee. I need someone seedy, seductive and/or creepy. He is more than welcome to create a production that might better fit his vision as a whole, but this scenario sees him doing all but a hostile takeover of an established production. His idea might have merit…but not in this universe."


Porter wasn't particularly amiable (in fact, outright nasty) nor crowd-friendly (whatever that means in this context. He definitely wasn't friendly - and that's why I liked him). In fact, he was seedy, seductive and/or creepy. THAT's why I liked him. No hostile takeover. In fact, that overblown, monstrosity of a production basically takes over everyone in the cast - except for the Hugely talented Marisha Question: did you even SEE this iteration? Or are you just scratching the Porter-potty itch?



"

I have - 10 times - on both sides of the Atlantic - with 7 different Emcees under my belt. I stand firm in my assertion that Porter really blew it here. You’re entitled to your opinion, but even a cursory scroll to last nights comments would tell you that, yes, I have seen this production and what a ludicrous question.

You quite literally said “He minimizes that weird choreography and relates a lot more to the audience. His cabaret training shows and he’s very likable and fun” -which definitely reads as if he is likable and easy to swallow by the audience."

 

WOW.  No cursory scroll here.  I really don't care enough about your opinion to do any searches.  And just because he was mean, sleazy and seductive doesn't mean the audience still couldn't like him.   There's charm in getting abused.  As you should know by your relentless parsing of every little word anyone posts.  SOOOO charming.  

 

 

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 1:43am

Bwaygurl2 said: "Skip23 said: "quizking101 said: "Skip23 said: "QUIZZKING101 SAYS:

"Thank you quizking, for your erudite contributions to this board.

Skip? Get F***ed."   

GLADLY...Oh, I forgot...it's Virgo season...analyze and criticize away...while I Get Fluffed.    

 

[binau]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 2:37am

Imagine Billy at home, sad and depressed as he is reading what people think about him on reddit (I'd like to think he'd read here too but I am now convinced this place is on the decline because of the behaviour on display in this thread so I wouldn't count on it) - he is scared and anxious that his career is over. He doesn't want to face another audience because it's like having 1200 pairs of eyes stabbing his body (or perhaps 600 eyes given low sales). He looks at his face in the mirror and wants to punch the mirror because he doesn't like the harsh cold aging process, but even worse he hates to hear the sound of his voice and it's not the same voice he has loved entertaining audiences with.

Then, cue Billy Porter sings "I don't care much". And the subtext is that he very much cares. THIS is the kind of energy that I think he brings to the role, which I personally love. 

I really think it's coming from a deep place, which is why I'm always surprised people can't 'feel' it or think it's all wrong. 

Updated On: 8/29/25 at 02:37 AM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 3:20am

He bowed out of a pride event 4-5 days ago.  Apparently he's sick?

He was out for a few shows prior to his scheduled dates outs.  This week is all unscheduled - and production is releasing that information late morning, day by day.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 7:20am

binau said: "
Then, cue Billy Porter sings "I don't care much". And the subtext is that he very much cares. THIS is the kind of energy that I think he brings to the role, which I personally love.

I really think it's coming from a deep place, which is why I'm always surprised people can't 'feel' it or think it's all wrong."

And that's great if Billy is singing the song in A Cabaret and not actually performing IN Cabaret where The Emcee isn't an actual person. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:04am

I'm too lazy to look it up the various interview quotes, but Harold Prince and Joel Grey definitely conceptualized the Emcee to indeed be symbolic and not an actual person - or in the very least, to blur the lines. I have known this musical well for over thirty years and it had never even occurred to me that someone would ever try to fight against this and get all Stanislavsky or whatever on the role. Even when Sam Mendes and Alan Cumming rethought the character for the 1990s revival, they still stuck to the basics of the original concept.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 12:38pm

Birdie Boy said: "The choreo is definitely horrible. The costumes are horrible too. Everytime Sally and Cliff are onstage it’s horrible. I’m fine with the emcee, I think he’s the only decent part of the show because he’s outside the story"

i never understood why the girls come out looking like lampshade's and the guys just walk on the stage  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 1:11pm

CoffeeBreak said: "He bowed out of a pride event 4-5 days ago. Apparently he's sick?

He was out for a few shows prior to his scheduled dates outs. This week is all unscheduled - and production is releasing that information late morning, day by day."

Billy is out again tonight. Marty is on again.

[Angel of Harlem]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 1:16pm

binau said: "Imagine Billy at home, sad and depressed as he is reading what people think about him on reddit (I'd like to think he'd read here too but I am now convinced this place is on the decline because of the behaviour on display in this thread so I wouldn't count on it) - he is scared and anxious that his career is over. He doesn't want to face another audience because it's like having 1200 pairs of eyes stabbing his body (or perhaps 600 eyes given low sales). He looks at his face in the mirror and wants to punch the mirror because he doesn't like the harsh cold aging process, but even worse he hates to hear the sound of his voice and it's not the same voice he has loved entertaining audiences with.

Then, cue Billy Porter sings "I don't care much". And the subtext is that he very much cares. THIS is the kind of energy that I think he brings to the role, which I personally love.

I really think it's coming from a deep place, which is why I'm always surprised people can't 'feel' it or think it's all wrong."

Please stop this nasty stuff 

let him heal 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 1:26pm

You "joined" a week ago and have spent most of your time attacking binau. who has made very clear that he liked Porter's performance. Get out of here. 

Updated On: 8/29/25 at 01:26 PM

[Angel of Harlem]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 1:27pm

Kad said: "You "joined" a week ago and have spent most of your time attacking binau, who has made very clear that he liked Porter's performance in London. Get out of here."

I’m not sure how long I’ve been on here is relevant? Been reading for years.

how about some constructive input Kad?