Cabaret 1987 Version - Questions

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 12:04am

I'm wondering just how much the 1987 version differs from the 1998 version of Cabaret.

I know that:
"Don't Go" is in where in the 98' version, "Maybe This Time" is.
"Mein Herr" is not in the show.
"Tomorrow Belongs to Me" is sung by Bobby first, rather than the recorder, then by Kost and Ernst at the end of the act.

But other than those changes, is the book generally the same? Biggest questions I have:
Is "The Telephone Song" still in the 87' version?
Is "The Money Song (Sitting Pretty)", or "Money, Money" in it?
Do Bobby and Cliff have the kissing scene they have in the 98' version?

Thanks, y'all!

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 12:07am

It was so long ago, but I'm pretty sure I remember both THE TELEPHONE SONG and SITTING PRETTY were in it.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 12:23am

I did the 87 version. I'm positive that "Sitting Pretty" (It's actually a weird combo of the original and the film version) and "The Telephone Song" in it. And I'm pretty positive Bobby and Cliff kiss.

Posted: 11/26/08 at 12:50am

I have a very good live *ahem* DVD-R of the production. It's largely a reconstruction of the original 1966 production--Hal pricne recreating his staging, and Ron Field's *spectacular* choreography (I didn't expect his choreography to be as impressive honestly although, unlike Fosse's, it does sometimes look like stuff you couldn't see in the real Kit Kat Club--Telephone song is the highlight with a really amazing dance for the whole crowd).

As mentioned Sitting Pretty is mixed with Money weirdly. (I want to say Joel Gray--who now had star billing--also sang I Don't Care Much but I can't remember or check right now). And Don't Go, which I love was done instead of Why Should I Wake Up.

the bookw as largely the 1966 edition (which now feels so tame) but Cliff was made gay/bisexual. I need to watch again and compare but I can't remember if some of the gay scenes were written by Masteroff for THIS version or added later for the Mendes--I think MORE were added to Mendes, but...

The changes made to the book of Cabaret fascinate me--it prob has as many official different librettos, all the changes included, as Follies.

However the true value of seeing rhe '87 edition is seeing how groudnbreaking Hal prince's largely 1966 staging was and Aronson's BRILLIANT designs (has there ever been a better musical designer?) I knwo at the time it wasn't the hit it was expected to be, and Prince called reviving it a mistake, I think partly cuz people found it a bit old fashioned? Maybe it wasn't changed enough.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 1:05am

The '87 "re-construction" was actually a watered down version of the Aronson set. The producers stipped a lot of detail away for the sake of budget.

If you can ever get you hands on Frank Rich's book on Aronson... GRAB IT!

Posted: 11/26/08 at 1:11am

I have it. It's my all time fave theatre book period and I pimp it out on ehre quite a bit (you can find it used at Amazon for like 30 bucks which is actually a good price). The set I wish I could see in action most from there--though I love all of his Prince designs, and tho Pacific Overtures would be up there but luckily we have the filmed version of that--is A Little Night Music with those plexiglass panels with birches on them that slid in and out to create cinematic dissolvs. An idea that others haven't used surprisingly. (I guess they were loud and hard to control lol)

The quality of th eimage I've seen isn't too great but the set seemed pretty complete to me. What details? Still, even in a cheapened version it's an amazing set.
Updated On: 11/26/08 at 01:11 AM

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 2:10am

thanks for all the info, guys. this has been very helpful. the book on aronson sounds terrific.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 2:18am

Yes, the Emcee does sing "I Don't Care Much." The '87 version is actually licensed through Tams-Witmark along with the original version.

~Steven

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 3:46am

The forced perspective pieces high up in the air on both sides of the stage were missing from the set.

Yes, the Master of Ceremonies sang "I Don't Care Much" at pretty much the same point as in the later revision.

I don't think we ever saw Cliff kiss a guy.

Posted: 11/26/08 at 6:11am

So are there three versions you can rent for performance?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 9:58am

I think you can only rent the 1966 version with the option to add the 1987 songs. Not that that stops theatres around the country from constructing their own versions, but last time I did Cabaret (which was in 2001, so who knows what's changed) it was the original version that was being licensed.

[Jon]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 10:10am

It seems most recent productions illegally rip off the Mendes/Marshall revival version, especially regarding things like the Emcee's costuming.

[Dangerous Divine]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 10:25am

I'm pretty sure you can license the 1966 production and the 1987 production. I've done both at different times and the 1966 version has a book that contains 3 songs that you can add in (Money, I Don't Care Much, and one other) while the 1988 production has those actually integrated into the script.