Cabaret

Everyone has, I think, heard this song before: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome…

It’s not a piece reserved for Liza Minnelli, even if she was great in it!
And now it’s one of those great classics of live performance, interspersed with lyrical singers.
We saw the Opéra Eclaté (France) give a masterful interpretation of it in 2014.

“Wilkommen” is the opening number of Cabaret, a 1966 musical written by John Kander (music) and Fred Ebb (lyrics). Cabaret was based on John Van Druten’s 1951 play, I Am A Camera, which in itself was adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 novella Goodbye to Berlin. (Whew.)

The original Broadway production ran from 20 November 1966—9 September 1969 at the Broadhurst, Imperial, and Broadway theatres respectively, and was directed by Harold Prince and choreographed by Ron Field.

[EMCEE]

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome
Fremde, étranger, stranger
Gluklich zu sehen, je suis enchanté,
Happy to see you, bleibe, reste, stay
Willkomen, bienvenue, welcome,
Im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret

[SPOKEN]
Mein Damen und Herren,Mesdames et Messieurs, Ladies and Gentlemen! Guten Abend, bon soir, Wie geht’s? Comment ca va? Do you feel good? I bet you do! Ich bin euer, je suis votre compere… I am your host.
Und sage,
Willkomen, bienvenue, welcome,
Im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret

Leave your troubles outside,
So- life is disappointing? Forget it!
We have no troubles here! Here life is beautiful… The girls are beautiful… Even the orchestra, is beautiful.
You see, I told you the orchestra, is beautiful.

And now, presenting the Cabaret girls.
Rosie, Lulu, Frenchie, Texas, Fritzie… Und Helga. Each and every one, a virgin. Ooh, you don’t believe me? Well don’t take my word for it, try Helga.

Outside it is winter, but in here, it it so hot! Every night we have to battle with the girls to keep them from taking off all their clothes. So, don’t go away. Who knows, tonight, we may lose the battle!

[KIT KAT GIRLS]
Wir sagen, Willkommen bienvenue, welcome
Im Cabaret, au Cabaret to Cabaret!

[EMCEE]
We are here to serve you!
And now presenting the Kit Kat boys!
Here they are. Bobby! Victor!
Or is it Victor! Bobby… You know there’s only one way to tell the difference… I’ll show you later.
Hans, Herrman,
And finally, the toast of Mayfair Fraulein Sally Bowles!
[SALLY]
Hello, darlings!

[EMCEE]
Bleibe, reste, stay!

[ALL]
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!
[EMCEE]
Thats Victor.

[ALL]
Im Cabaret, au Cabaret
[whispered]
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome,
Fremde, etranger, stranger,

[EMCEE]
Hello, stranger!

[ALL]
Gluklich zu sehen, je suis enchante,

[EMCEE]
Enchante madam!

[ALL]
Happy to see you, Bleibe, reste, stay,
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!
Fremde, etranger, stranger!
Gluklich zu sehen, je suis enchante
Happy, to see you, bleibe reste stay,
Wir sagen,
Willkommen bienvenue, welcome,
Im Cabaret! Au Cabaret! To Cabaret!

[EMCEE]
Thank you!
Bobby, Victor, Hans, Rosie, Lulu, Frenchie, Texas, Fritzie, Helga, Sally and me!
Welcome, to the Kit Kat CLUB!

I like this version of Michael Nigro& Co, because it’s ‘without costume or makeup’ and makes it easier to visualize what can be transformed in terms of appearance, without losing a crumb of artistic quality.

And dare to tell me that something like that doesn’t belong in some virtual gaming cabaret… Seriously? Nothing to do in Red Dead Redemption ?

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“A tout seigneur, tout honneur”, we must finish with the Moulin Rouge, that so famous cabaret with the so famous French Cancan…