Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: I am an inspiring teacher, thanks for noticing | |
| Posted by: scoot1er 10:09 am EDT 03/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: I am an inspiring teacher, thanks for noticing - KingSpeed 03:06 am EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| Joe Masteroff was my best friend, and as such, I was very much aware of the changes to the Mendes Cabaret. But, aside from adding "Maybe This Time" and "I Don't Care Much," there were no major book changes. Yes, the change in attitude and approach were very diferent from the original production, but, as for changes in the book? They were minimal. | |
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| Minimal? Not true. | |
| Last Edit: KingSpeed 02:51 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 02:35 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: I am an inspiring teacher, thanks for noticing - scoot1er 10:09 am EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| There were more changes than you speak of. Big changes. The biggest was that Sam Mendes put us (the audience) in the cabaret . In the original, the cabaret (including its patrons) is onstage and they sing “The Telephone Song”which was cut by Mendes. By the end of the show, the patrons are wearing swastikas. You and I in the audience weren’t so the story is affected. Also different was the conception of “Tomorrow Belongs To Me” sung by waiters in the original. Not a boy on a record player. “Meeskite” was also cut. All these cut songs affected the book even if many of the the lines were intact. Then, of course, there is the movie which is an entirely different story. But I don’t hear anyone say “If they hate the source material, maybe they should have written their own show.” |
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| re: Minimal? Not true. | |
| Posted by: scoot1er 07:15 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
| In reply to: Minimal? Not true. - KingSpeed 02:35 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| As I said, the changes were primarily directorial choices. The book itself was not rewritten. And, yes, the changes in the actual words were minimal. The concept, however, was not minimal. Sam Mendes showed great respect for the written word even though his directorial choices were radical. Yes, he put the audience in the cabaret, but he didn't have to re-write the show to do it. And, for the record, Joe did not like the movie at all. But that's another story. And Christopher Isherwood liked the movie but not the show. | |
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| re: Minimal? Not true. | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 08:53 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Minimal? Not true. - scoot1er 07:15 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| He cut three major songs. That had a major impact on the book. A book isn’t merely the lines. It’s the entire structure of the show. You being friends with Joe doesn’t change that. | |
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| re: Minimal? Not true. | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 02:50 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Minimal? Not true. - KingSpeed 08:53 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| The 1987 revival directed by Hal Prince, with which the authors were closely involved, cut ”Meeskite” and ”Why Can't I Wake Up?” The latter was replaced by ”Don't Go.” It also combined the original ”Money Song,” aka ”Sitting Pretty,” with ”Money, Money,” with the latter making up a larger portion of the combined version. The production also added ”I Don't Care Much,” in the same place as the Mendes-Marshall version. This version was then licensed, along with the original 1966 version. | |
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| re: Minimal? Not true. | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 05:18 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Minimal? Not true. - AlanScott 02:50 pm EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| Thanks for the info. | |
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| re: Minimal? Not true. | |
| Posted by: scoot1er 10:39 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Minimal? Not true. - KingSpeed 08:53 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| I don’t need a lecture on what the book of a musical is. The structure of the show did not change. The point of view is the show did not change. Add songs or cut songs—the book of the show stayed pretty much the same. | |
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| re: Minimal? Not true. | |
| Last Edit: KingSpeed 02:09 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 02:04 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Minimal? Not true. - scoot1er 10:39 pm EDT 03/20/22 | |
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| Initially, you said the only change was the addition of 2 songs. You have yet to respond to the fact that 3 songs were cut. When THREE songs are cut, the book by definition is changed. Not a lecture. Just a fact. My mistake. “Sitting Pretty” was also cut. That’s 4 songs. Wait- was “Why Should I Wake Up” cut too? Now we’re talking about a dramatically different show! |
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| Let me tie this together | |
| Last Edit: KingSpeed 02:54 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 02:53 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Minimal? Not true. - KingSpeed 02:04 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| The argument being made about Billy Porter and Encores was if you “hate” a show in its original form, write your own show. I added Cabaret to the discussion because the revival made radical changes to the show. Should Sam Mendes have written his own show? I disagree. I’m not big on rewriting shows, especially ones I love, but I give Porter credit for taking a risk with a show that is never done. And obviously Mendes was commercially successful. I did not like the Cabaret revival because the original version means a lot to me for many reasons. |
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| You're neglecting a very important factor re CABARET... | |
| Posted by: Seth Christenfeld (tabula-rasa@verizon.net) 11:54 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
| In reply to: Let me tie this together - KingSpeed 02:53 am EDT 03/21/22 | |
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| ...all three writers were very much alive at the time and able to participate in the rewrites. Seth, who'll never stand in the way of someone rewriting their own work even when he disagrees with the changes |
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