Hey, I'm all for skipping french history and just buying a classroom tickets to "Les Mis", LOL! Thanks. If my history teachers in my day were half as great as a Broadway show, I wouldn't have had to do MY OWN research.
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
I think Alan Cumming and Joel Grey both did marvelous jobs as the Emcee. And in one production I saw, the Master of Ceremonies was played by a woman. :)
What I love about the Emcee is that his/her character is what the actor or actress puts into the role. And since the Emcee has no real characterization, s/he's nothing and everything at the same time.
I love Cabaret. ^_^
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
When I saw Cabaret at Kalliope Sally messed up a little with the Prarie Oyster. Some of the egg spilled over the glass.
So she ad-libbed, "Yours is a bit messy. Sorry about that," to Cliff.
Have any of the actors you've seen in Cabaret ad-libbed?
Featured Actor Joined: 10/10/05
Ok, this probably doesn't count, but when I saw Cabaret, in the nose-bleed section of the balcony (still, worth it for the experience) the Emcee at one point shouted up to us, "Hello, poor people!" :) All of us cheered after that, I felt special :)
A Make-up Question for anyone who has played the Emcee or been part of a Cabaret production ...
What sort of make-up was used to make the emcee pale? How did you keep it from getting all over everything (incl. the costumes)?
I was thinking that simply using clown white wouldbe a disaster.
Any ideas/info will be much appreciated.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/23/05
Ah, I love Cabaret. Easily one of my favorite shows.
I saw the revival at Studio 54 with two of my closest friends a few months before it closed, and Susan Egan was Sally. She was amazing, and so nice afterwards when it was just the three of us waiting by the stage door.
But the highlight was easily the Emcee, who was being understudied that night (Jon Secada being out).
Did anyone ever see Vance Avery understudy the role? Because, in my opinion, he was absolutely perfect in the part. My eyes were glued on him the whole time he was on stage. It was one of the best performances I've been fortunate enough to see.
The best part of the night was when the Emcee came out and called out to the people in the last row (including us - rush tickets, wooh!). Everyone cheered and laughed, and the three of us quietly (or so we thought) chorused "We love you," not thinking that we would be heard.
But we were.
And then he did the most adorable thing "No, I love youuuu more! Always remember that I love you more."
We died. And when he came out at the stage door, he looked at us and went "Ah, you were the girls in the back, weren't you? You made my night!" And then he talked to us about for another fifteen minutes, without us asking or being all clingy. So nice.
I suppose that was the best part of the night.
Sigh.
Vance Avery, wherever you are ...
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
Awwww! That' so SWEET!
I never saw him, but I heard him on the cast recording. He played the banjo. :)
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
You have to give Kander and Ebb credit. Not only did they compose the best musical score EVER, but they made AN ACCORDION sound scary.
Admit it. In Cabaret during 'Tomorrow Belongs to Me' the accordion sounded scary. :p
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
I love the banjo. It just makes me smile.
...double post!
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
Me too. Though I like all the other instruments too.
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
What do you think is the most telling moment in Cabaret?
For me it's when the brick crashes through Herr Schultz's window.
Schneider's "I understand" is all we need to know that their relationship won't last. And that Schultz will be persecuted cause he's a Jew.
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
So what do you think is the most telling moment in Cabaret?
"She wouldn't look JEWISH at all."
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
Yes, that's a very telling (and scary and hurtful) moment. :)
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
Who's your favorite Kit Kat Girl actress? I like Kristin Olness cause she stayed to the end as Helga. :)
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
So what did the Emcee say about the Kit Kat Girls when you saw him?
For me he said "Frenchie is SO UPTIGHT! Oh, LOOSEN UP, Frenchie!" and "Never turn your back on Lulu, or she'll turn her back on you!"
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
He also said, "I gave Fritzie a VERY HARD instrument!' (She played the clarinet) Then they started French kissing. :p
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
Uhm, another one was "Helga is the baby. I am a father to her...Time for her bottle!"
Then she knelt in front of his you-know-what.
Sometimes they said "Helga is the baby -- and I'm like a father to her. So when she's bad, I spank her. And she is very, very, VERY bad."
Ad-lib.
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
^ That's what Alan Cumming used. I heard that Matt Mcgrath said for Texas "They'd have licked them at the Alamo if Texas were there!"
Cute. :)
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
The Emcee at Kalliope also said "Rosie is a rose, and a rose is a rose is a rose."
Leading Actor Joined: 7/27/05
:) So who do you think portrayed the Emcee best?
I'd say Alan Cumming.
Videos