The costuming is so clever. Everyone is in muted browns, blacks, whites, and beige. So when you see that Swastika armband, that red is at once striking and chilling.
I saw the revival of this production in Los Angeles a few years ago. My theatre companion noticed that I was visibly shaken by it for hours after it was over.
So apparently during one of the shows during this run, Alan Cumming got a concussion off stage during the first act. He woozily finished the act, but drew the line at that and let the understudy take over while he sought medical help. However, even in his less than perfectly cogent state he recognized there might be a bit of awkwardness at the hospital if he showed up partially dressed and bearing a tattoo of a swastika on his butt. So he spent the whole ride over furiously trying to wipe it up, but I suppose it gave him something to preoccupy his thoughts and keep him from passing out. Pros and cons of the art you know.
The ending just pops into my mind from time to time and I feel my stomach drop. This musical does a remarkable and unparalleled job of just kicking you in the gut.
I remember seeing this show live at my local College and honestly the moment the guy took his coat off the entire audience went silence af and it was absolutely BONE CHILLING.
Something about the audience's dancing and stomping gives me chills... I love how much it contributes to the atmosphere, I'm going to see this show in May so I really hope they do something like that so I can experience it live.
MC seems more like the fiddler from fiddler on the roof, he's a character who's possibly there as if in the story's reality or a symbolic figure that the story revolves around.
I feel there are two Emcees. One is an actual human character in the story, the other is narrating from beyond the grave. The one at 7:55 was definitely human.
no the emcee is not a nazi. The Emcee in Cabaret is gay, jewish, and a politcal prisoner sent to the concentration camps. Just look at the finale and look at the signs he wears on his prisoner clothes.
Notice how everyone is singing besides the people who will be affected by the nazi reign, as in tommorow will not belong to them. This scene is so haunting, the silence and the sorrow all combined with a wonderously upsetting chorus.
This song is both pretty an scary. As of 2017 this song is being sung in Hate groups such as White Supremacists and Neo Nazi groups like an anthem. Also this song was covered by the Bigoted singer Anita Bryant whom hated Gay people as Hitler did too. Ironically what all these bigots and racists don't know is that this song was created by TWO Jewish Gay Men who get the last laugh. Song: Tomorrow Belongs To Me Composed by John Kander with Lyrics by Fred Ebb influenced by an old German Folk Song called "In Einem Kuhlen Grunde" aka In a Cool Valley
A few nazis officers were gay. They lived and were in office til they said something that Hitler disagreed with. Dictators will tolerate contradictions to their principles until the descanters make another mistake. This is what hitler and Castro and Stalin and pol pot weak and cowardly
the emcee's looks of discomfort at 7:30 and 7:55 are so much more poignant and moving while watching the play for the second time...he knows what's going to happen if this ideology takes over.
That's my favorite moment in this scene! I think the Emcee narrating most of this story is the spirit of the human one who once ran the cabaret and attended this part. At this party, he suddenly is reminded that he's a gay Jew, and the Nazis are coming to power.
It’s an indescribable feeling reading all the comments about people’s first time seeing the show and how it just stopped everything dead when the swastika comes out. My first time seeing this I guess I expected the Nazis to remain a looming, menacing presence in the background. But then when he takes off his coat and displays his insignia without a care let alone fear of consequences, it really just changes the entire experience. The creators did an amazing job of capturing the feeling that must have been there for regular people living their lives at the time. There was this thing happening off in the distance, then nearby but not right in the open, then in the room but not taking center stage, then BAM the rise of Naziism was in everyone’s face, and was inescapable. Battle lines were drawn and a side had to be chosen. Make no mistake, “not taking sides” is taking a side when you know that evil is being done.
Plus, a lot of the lyrics used in the song are linked to fundamental Nazi beliefs. For example, the repeating theme of a "fatherland" had to do with Hitler's idea of reclaiming what he believed to be the land of his ancestors and of the Aryan Race.
it's all so well done , but as excellent as it is I can't watch anymore , I'm crying too much , because it happened there once and it is happening here now - ! too sad , too scary !!
Alan's bum! Yay! I didn't care for the staging of Tomorrow Belongs to Me (reprise), though. In the stage version I saw, they were all dancing and stomping around, so it was way more chilling.
@MrDanielBrisk I saw a video about Cabaret where the composer of the show said that the show meant that wherever people are, bad things are able to happen. I hope that answers your question.
It's ironic that Bobby shook Ernst's hand, considering the fact that the Nazis didn't like gay men very much either. Something tells me Bobby might have eventually ended up wearing a pink triangle...
He's not necessarily a Nazi. I haven't finished watching this yet, but having seen several versions, it's not explicitly said that he's a Nazi so if you view him as an outside character, he could merely be a person mocking the Nazis until they become a serious threat. He's gay, so he would have been sent to a concentration camp.
I believe in the 1966 Broadway version. Herr Schultz sings a song here called MEESKITE. Whew! Hooray for Alan's butt! Pretty sure Joel Grey never did that!
I've been contemplating the symbolism and place of the piece in the musical. I don't think I've come up with anything really meaningful. Can you help me out and explain it to me? thanks.
It's been 3 years so I don't know if you'll ever see this, but this song is meant to show how truly widespread the Nazi ideology is at this point in the show. This scene is supposed to surprise the audience by truly revealing the time period, but it is all the more shocking to us that everyone, save the two foreigners (Sally and Cliff), the Jew and his wife (Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider), and the Emcee (Who is both gay and Jewish) have all subscribed to the nazi ideology. Even the homosexual who wants to dance with Cliff is ascribed to it (In other versions of the story, the active Nazi has a sexual relationship with Cliff, here just seen as a kiss). This scene turns what is a happy multicultural wedding into a show of Nazism.
Question -- If Ernst is a Nazi and anti-semetic, then why does he join in on "Tomorrow Belongs to Me"? Isn't that supposed to be for all the people facing hardships during Hitler's reign?
You do realize this play is from the early 60s, almost 25 years before Grand Hotel was created? Yes this version is from 1998, but it follows similar directory to the original.
yes, i do. i wasn't talking about the script...i was talking about the DIRECTION of the 1998 version....which was 9 years after Grand Hotel. YOu can tell the director took ideas from that production of "Grand Hotel."
For a director like Tommy Tune, and a property like Grand Hotel, a "rip off" as you say, by a brilliant artist like Sam Mendes is nothing but a... compliment.
Too bad Alan Cumming plays the SAME role in every role he plays. Not the most versatile actor. he's playing the same sleaze character he played in "Circle of Friends" over 20 years ago. I don't think I've ever seen him play a role differently.
Кино
The costuming is so clever. Everyone is in muted browns, blacks, whites, and beige. So when you see that Swastika armband, that red is at once striking and chilling.
How many people's stomach's dropped when they saw the swastika armband? Because I almost shit myself.
I saw the revival of this production in Los Angeles a few years ago. My theatre companion noticed that I was visibly shaken by it for hours after it was over.
So apparently during one of the shows during this run, Alan Cumming got a concussion off stage during the first act. He woozily finished the act, but drew the line at that and let the understudy take over while he sought medical help. However, even in his less than perfectly cogent state he recognized there might be a bit of awkwardness at the hospital if he showed up partially dressed and bearing a tattoo of a swastika on his butt. So he spent the whole ride over furiously trying to wipe it up, but I suppose it gave him something to preoccupy his thoughts and keep him from passing out. Pros and cons of the art you know.
Walked into a lamp if I remember correctly, struggled through the first act and came off crawling. He held up well to the show must go on.
This is so disturbing. "Cabaret" is probably the scariest musical I've ever seen.
The ending just pops into my mind from time to time and I feel my stomach drop. This musical does a remarkable and unparalleled job of just kicking you in the gut.
I remember seeing this show live at my local College and honestly the moment the guy took his coat off the entire audience went silence af and it was absolutely BONE CHILLING.
I wish I could see this live
as soon as the armband is revealed the ensemble starts marching instead of dancing
"Tomorrow belongs to me" is probably one of the most haunting songs in all of broadway history. I get the heebie-jeebies every time i hear it! :O
It's frightening that this is still so relevant in 2023 ..
I was like so when does the shit hit the fun and then he took his jacket off and I said "oh so now!"
Something about the audience's dancing and stomping gives me chills... I love how much it contributes to the atmosphere, I'm going to see this show in May so I really hope they do something like that so I can experience it live.
It is a beautiful song - until you realize it's all about Nazism
MC seems more like the fiddler from fiddler on the roof, he's a character who's possibly there as if in the story's reality or a symbolic figure that the story revolves around.
I feel there are two Emcees. One is an actual human character in the story, the other is narrating from beyond the grave. The one at 7:55 was definitely human.
no the emcee is not a nazi. The Emcee in Cabaret is gay, jewish, and a politcal prisoner sent to the concentration camps. Just look at the finale and look at the signs he wears on his prisoner clothes.
In this version, maybe. But I don't think it's in the text of the book.
Do you think the crystal bowl is symbolic as well? Reminded me immediately of kristallnacht.
Yes, that's what I thought, too.
I was literally about to comment an analysis of that
Okay, how the HELL did I not think of that?
I know this was posted four years ago but that is a good points
Me too…
7:08 the way Alan Cumming conveys so much emotion without speaking a word..
He is absolutely perfect as the Emcee.
Notice how everyone is singing besides the people who will be affected by the nazi reign, as in tommorow will not belong to them. This scene is so haunting, the silence and the sorrow all combined with a wonderously upsetting chorus.
This song is both pretty an scary. As of 2017 this song is being sung in Hate groups such as White Supremacists and Neo Nazi groups like an anthem. Also this song was covered by the Bigoted singer Anita Bryant whom hated Gay people as Hitler did too. Ironically what all these bigots and racists don't know is that this song was created by TWO Jewish Gay Men who get the last laugh.
Song: Tomorrow Belongs To Me
Composed by John Kander with Lyrics by Fred Ebb
influenced by an old German Folk Song called "In Einem Kuhlen Grunde" aka In a Cool Valley
A few nazis officers were gay. They lived and were in office til they said something that Hitler disagreed with. Dictators will tolerate contradictions to their principles until the descanters make another mistake. This is what hitler and Castro and Stalin and pol pot weak and cowardly
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you end a scene.
the emcee's looks of discomfort at 7:30 and 7:55 are so much more poignant and moving while watching the play for the second time...he knows what's going to happen if this ideology takes over.
That's my favorite moment in this scene! I think the Emcee narrating most of this story is the spirit of the human one who once ran the cabaret and attended this part. At this party, he suddenly is reminded that he's a gay Jew, and the Nazis are coming to power.
Alan is mesmerizing.
It’s an indescribable feeling reading all the comments about people’s first time seeing the show and how it just stopped everything dead when the swastika comes out. My first time seeing this I guess I expected the Nazis to remain a looming, menacing presence in the background. But then when he takes off his coat and displays his insignia without a care let alone fear of consequences, it really just changes the entire experience. The creators did an amazing job of capturing the feeling that must have been there for regular people living their lives at the time. There was this thing happening off in the distance, then nearby but not right in the open, then in the room but not taking center stage, then BAM the rise of Naziism was in everyone’s face, and was inescapable. Battle lines were drawn and a side had to be chosen. Make no mistake, “not taking sides” is taking a side when you know that evil is being done.
Plus, a lot of the lyrics used in the song are linked to fundamental Nazi beliefs. For example, the repeating theme of a "fatherland" had to do with Hitler's idea of reclaiming what he believed to be the land of his ancestors and of the Aryan Race.
it's all so well done , but as excellent as it is I can't watch anymore , I'm crying too much , because it happened there once and it is happening here now - ! too sad , too scary !!
damn, this reprise is one of the best I've ever seen. chilling
Currently playing Frauline Kost in my college production of Cabaret :)
I've just been in a performance of Cabaret... i LOVED IT. I was Herr Ludwig; this performance gave me loads of inspiration! :)
hahaha my jaw dropped to the floor at that end
This reprise is chilling.
The marching starting the SECOND we see the armband is so chilling
I love Alan's entrance.
Tomorrow belongs to me is such a creepy song!
Thank you for this! we're doing this as a college show i'm playing shultz and this guy is the best inspiration I can find!
i am playing Fraulein Kost and this song just it gets to me every time.its crazy the meaning behind such a beautiful song
Alan's bum! Yay! I didn't care for the staging of Tomorrow Belongs to Me (reprise), though. In the stage version I saw, they were all dancing and stomping around, so it was way more chilling.
@MrDanielBrisk I saw a video about Cabaret where the composer of the show said that the show meant that wherever people are, bad things are able to happen. I hope that answers your question.
Otto's invitation got messed up. Fraulein Bowles spelled his name backwards.
I love this comment because this show needs comments like this. ;)
I saw this play on broadway, we had one of the little bistro tables up front, so fun, we saw Alan Cummings and Brook Shields as Sally Bowels
Oh yes I forgot it was September 2001.... a few days before 911
It's ironic that Bobby shook Ernst's hand, considering the fact that the Nazis didn't like gay men very much either. Something tells me Bobby might have eventually ended up wearing a pink triangle...
My favorite scene from the whole play- extremely powerful. Haha I am NOT talking about Alan's bum!
He's not necessarily a Nazi. I haven't finished watching this yet, but having seen several versions, it's not explicitly said that he's a Nazi so if you view him as an outside character, he could merely be a person mocking the Nazis until they become a serious threat. He's gay, so he would have been sent to a concentration camp.
The Emcee is definitely *not* with the Nazis. But he makes chilling commentary about them by mocking how the Germans just let it all happen.
three things.
1. Bobby is a stalker.
2. 7:32... yum.
3. Alan should wear black more often.
aw that bit always makes me well up :(
I believe in the 1966 Broadway version. Herr Schultz sings a song here called MEESKITE. Whew! Hooray for Alan's butt! Pretty sure Joel Grey never did that!
Wait. They censored the gay kiss, but they didn't censor this?! WHAT THE HELL?!?!?
I've been contemplating the symbolism and place of the piece in the musical. I don't think I've come up with anything really meaningful. Can you help me out and explain it to me? thanks.
It's been 3 years so I don't know if you'll ever see this, but this song is meant to show how truly widespread the Nazi ideology is at this point in the show. This scene is supposed to surprise the audience by truly revealing the time period, but it is all the more shocking to us that everyone, save the two foreigners (Sally and Cliff), the Jew and his wife (Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider), and the Emcee (Who is both gay and Jewish) have all subscribed to the nazi ideology. Even the homosexual who wants to dance with Cliff is ascribed to it (In other versions of the story, the active Nazi has a sexual relationship with Cliff, here just seen as a kiss). This scene turns what is a happy multicultural wedding into a show of Nazism.
Thiccc
This song always makes me feel like i have to throw up.
I wonder who drew this Hakenkreuz on Alan's bum ... >)
So very interesting.
Question --
If Ernst is a Nazi and anti-semetic, then why does he join in on "Tomorrow Belongs to Me"? Isn't that supposed to be for all the people facing hardships during Hitler's reign?
i wish i had been that person!
It's the complete opposite of that.
Alan Cumming is not amused. :D
7:32 and and 8:47 is what my dreans are make of ( swoon )
i want 8:47 as my screen saver
Same but I don't want to be questioned as to why it is my screen saver
@mfsgoodlilslave But his name is Schultz. Musicals do tend to simplify . . .
Happening in America as we speak. Scary times.
oh, sorry for my misunderstanding.
If you see the end...never mind, I won't spoil it. *grins*
What's the name of the actor who play Ernst Ludwig??
Is this the London version?
i think alan could turn a straight man gay, if ya know what i mean ;D
Its obviously pro-Nazi. Beyond that I'm not sure what else you're supposed to conclude.
Direction is a rip off from Tommy Tune's "Grand Hotel." Kind of dissapointing.
You do realize this play is from the early 60s, almost 25 years before Grand Hotel was created? Yes this version is from 1998, but it follows similar directory to the original.
Direction*
yes, i do. i wasn't talking about the script...i was talking about the DIRECTION of the 1998 version....which was 9 years after Grand Hotel. YOu can tell the director took ideas from that production of "Grand Hotel."
+Warren Moore wish I could see the original
For a director like Tommy Tune, and a property like Grand Hotel, a "rip off" as you say, by a brilliant artist like Sam Mendes is nothing but a... compliment.
The song was written by Jews.
Too bad Alan Cumming plays the SAME role in every role he plays. Not the most versatile actor. he's playing the same sleaze character he played in "Circle of Friends" over 20 years ago. I don't think I've ever seen him play a role differently.
not true, look on another movies and plays, he's great!
I really hate that creepy man that always comes out random places at random times with his creepy smile and gross... clothes?
.