Cabaret Lyrics

[TheNPH]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 12:44pm

I was working on a reheasal for Cabaret and we were working on "Two Ladies". This may sound like an extremely stupid question, but we couldn't figure out a definite answer. Does anyone know what the giant key symbolizes when the Emcee and girls say that they have one thing in common?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 1:00pm

I always thought it meant that they shared a room/lived together... Maybe I'm wrong.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 1:03pm

I thought the same thing as Sueleen. I don't think it symbolizes anything. I think it just means that they live together. But maybe I just can't find the symbology.

[iruvyou]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 1:32pm

I agree w/ the other i really think the key is just symbolizing that they live in the same place

[TheNPH]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 1:33pm

Thanks. I just think that I am putting way to much thought into it. I guess yours is probably right. I was thinking that it may sybolize their equality in the relationship, but I don't know how that would be connected to the whole storyline.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 1:56pm

I always thought 'the key' meant 'the key to the relationship' not the literal key to the apartment.

In that case, I would say 'the key' is sex.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 1:57pm

I always thought it meant 'the key to our relationship'...not the literal key to the apartment.

In that case, I would venture the key is sex.

[fiesta1]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 2:10pm

I took it to mean a key to their flat.

When I was in a production of Cabaret in college 20 years ago, we staged this with an actual dorm key on a chain that the Emcee kept around his neck.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 2:48pm

I just did Cabaret, and was one of the two ladies. We put the key down the Emcees pants. So on one level it just means the key to the apartment ("everyone in Berlin has a perfectly marvelous roommate, some people have two people"), and on another level it represented the whole sex thing.
It's all up to the director I guess.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 2:54pm

Anyone remember if they actually used a key in the movie? I don't remember one, but it could be I just have forgotten it.

[TheNPH]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 3:11pm

Yeah, they used a big key in the movie.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 3:35pm

Maybe it's just me, but given the oversized key, and the phallic nature of keys, and that that moment is followed by the sex shadow play, I always took "the key" to be slightly suggestive of the Emcee's equipment.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 4:29pm

I also always assumed that the key was sex, or at least something indicative of sex... because if I remember correctly they say "one thing in common... the key..." and then run behind the curtain. I think that they do live together, but I don't think it's a literal key. Most of the show does have deeper meanings, but I'm not so sure that particular part does.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 4:56pm

Of course in the production at Studio 54, one of the two ladies was no lady.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 5:22pm

Could kick myself for not remembering to mention that... I mean, if you're looking for symbolic meaning maybe you'd want to head in *that* direction. One was Lulu and one was Bobby, in drag. In terms of deeper meanings, the Studio 54 version of Cabaret played with persecution because of sexuality in addition to that because of religion in Germany in the 30's... I don't know what exactly you're looking for, but I could go on forever.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 5:25pm

AAAND Lulu is also supposed to be bi-sexual.
You like Lulu don't you? Too bad, so does Rosie.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 5:33pm

Yup.

I have this book about the connection between gay culture and musical theater... there's A LOT on Cabaret, and the idea of ambiguity as it's carried out through the show. It's really interesting.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 5:40pm

"AAAND Lulu is also supposed to be bi-sexual.
You like Lulu don't you? Too bad, so does Rosie."

...on the recording, yes. but as i recall, those lines are all improv (all the introduction lines), so you have to be careful when speculating about their deeper meaning. when i saw it, the emcee said "here's lulu! lulu makes all the waiters go lulu! does lulu make you lulu?"

though i do agree about cabaret's use of metaphors, especially the last revival. it was really quite brilliant. even the incorporation of the improv can be viewed as a symbol, if the lines in question cannot... but maybe that's just me thinkning about it a bit too much Updated On: 6/18/04 at 05:40 PM

[secret-soul]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 5:51pm

unrelated: I saw a license plate frame today on the back of a Lexus SUV-like automobile that said "Life is a Cabernet."

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/18/04 at 6:06pm

nystate, I think you're right... but didn't most of the guys who played Emcee use similar adlibs? I know that both Adam and Jon Secada did "You like Lulu? Well too bad. So does Rosie." Eh, just a technicality, I suppose. I actually have something you might want to read. PM or IM me.