Cabaret: How Many Versions?- Page 2

[binau]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 3:11pm

"To the best of my knowledge:
1967, 1987 and 1997 are all available to be performed."

Is the 1997 the Mendes revival? Because I'm pretty sure that isn't available.

But every production that has been undertaken in my area (well, two), have used the 87 version but tried to incorporate Mendes sensibilities with the Emcee etc..

Posted: 11/13/09 at 3:34pm

Tams Witmark has the rights: Welcome to the Cabaret sings the Emcee of the Kit Kat Club through painted lips, as the people of Berlin 1929 join him. Both versions of this show follow the same story and share most songs. Musical numbers exclusively in the Original 1967 version include Meeskite and Why Should I Wake Up? Numbers only in the Revised 1987 version include I Don't Care Much, Don't Go and The Money Song. Both versions include Willkommen, Perfectly Marvelous, Sitting Pretty, Tomorrow Belongs to Me, Cabaret, Don't Tell Mama, It Couldn't Please Me More and Two Ladies.
Tams Witmark Cabaret

[binau]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 4:02pm

That is the Original production and 1987 production, not the Mendes revival.

Posted: 11/13/09 at 4:25pm

Yep- sorry I thought it said that. Two versions, not the most recent.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 4:48pm

Maybe This Time and I Don't Care Much were written and recorded long before Kander and Ebb were hired to write Cabaret.

Maybe This Time is on Liza's first album released in 1963.

I Don't Care Much is on Barbra's album called People released in 64. It is sort of dropped incidentally into the 1987 production with the Emcee singing it as commentary (as all his songs are) but not in a 'performance' context.

Kander and Ebb's first show together, Flora, was produced in 1965 and was almost an audition for Hal Prince and Cabaret.

[binau]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 4:54pm

I didn't know this info, thanks. But I searched and it appears "I don't care much" is on 'The Second Barba Streisand Album' (1963), not People.

Posted: 11/13/09 at 10:24pm

|Eric, I saw the 1987 CABARET when the post-Broadway tour (with Grey) played Toronto.

The text was pretty close to the 1966. It was, after all, staged by Prince. Some dialogue was added to establish that Cliff was bisexual, and "Meeskite" and "Why Should I Wake Up" were both cut. But the 1987 version was not a radical rethinking of the piece as was the Mendes production.|

Thanks Mark. I've seen this production a few times (obviously not live) so am aware of the changes (though I think Cliff could arguably be pretty much gay in it--though of course he gets Sally pregnant so maybe it's a question of sematics) While I prefer "Why Should I Wake Up" as a song, I really like how "Don't Go" works in context. (I Don't Care Much was also added, and placed in a different place than it is now as is mentioned, a place that worked better IMHO)

My question was if Masteroff's book actually had much new dialogue in the Mendes production--I know the show was not a rethinking whatsoever--besides these changes it was almost a recreation of the original production design, choreography and directing wise. I just hadn't seen Mendes production since a tour in the early '00s and couldn't remember how much different dialogue there was or if his changes were all just in matters EXCEPT dialogue if that makes sense.

As great as I thought his production was, I have to say seeing the Prince production in what is essentially a recreation of his '67 original I feel that sometimes it gets looked down upon by modern Cabaret fans who assume it must be old fashioned. While I think the changes made for '87--about Cliff's sexuality are essential to any modern version of the piece--Prince's actual production, from Field's AMAZING (ok, maybe too amazing) choreography (watching it you get why people were convinced he'd become a star director.choreographer) to of course Aronson's masterful design to the directing, Prince's production is GENIUS. I know it was something of a disappointment in terms of its success when revived, but it definetly IMHO holds up.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 10:36pm

Is it sad that the two regional productions I've seen seemed to have just xeroxed the Mendes libretto from the coffee table book? Both times I've seen the show they used the revival script and songs, probably without permission.

Posted: 11/13/09 at 10:43pm

If it's sad or not depends on if you liked the production I suppose

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 10:47pm

Nah. Either they explicitly allow the changes or they turn a blind eye to it because I guarantee you that no production since as early as 1995 uses the licensed material to the note and letter.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 10:56pm

I absolutely love "Why Should I Wake Up"

[Jon]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 11:31pm

I was involved in a production in the 1970's that had Cliff sing "I Don't Care Much" in the scene in the Kit Kat Klub after he argues with Sally and she storms off to her dressing room, before the Nazis beat him up. Then she comes out and sings the title song.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 11:38pm

Maybe This Time was supposed to go into the original Broadway show if Liza got the role. When Prince decided to go the mediocre singer route, Kander & Ebb pulled the song from the show.

Posted: 11/14/09 at 12:05am

I still think that song is wrong for Sally.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/14/09 at 12:46am

Sally wasn't going to be Sally. Sally was going to be Liza. That's why Prince didn't cast her.

Posted: 11/14/09 at 1:00am

I adore Why Should I Wake Up too--it's prob my fave non cabaret song in the show but dramatically I understand why they wanted to change it and use Don't Go