Cabaret

A detailed Summary of Cabaret

Cabaret provides for its audience an animated and a uniquely exciting dramatization of Berlin, Germany just before the Second World War. The story of many Germans living in an uncertain world is shown through just a few characters. Life is a cabaret, or so the famed song goes. After watching "Cabaret," you'll agree to an extent, but also realize how unsettling the assertion is. Taking place in the early 1930s, a portrait of life in decadent Berlin, is both uplifting and grim. Not your typical musical, it is comedic and dramatic, realistic, very tasteful, and ultimately thought provoking.

An American named Cliff is traveling by train to Berlin Germany and seems to be quite weary and tired. He meets a German man named Ernst who seems to be quite pleasant and yet just a tad mysterious in his ways. By a stroke of luck Ernst offers him a good name and a place to stay. He even invites Cliff to take in the scene and enjoy himself at a Kit Kat club in the heart of Berlin. Cliff being a somewhat reserved man he is a little reluctant to accept the offerings of his new friend, but realizes he has nowhere else to go, and accepts kindly.

Cliff asserts himself as being a struggling writer, along with being an English tutor.

After sometime, Sally convinced him to go and work with Ernst and his business dealings. He went to Paris to pick up a suitcase and bring back to Berlin, to Ernst. He thought that the suitcase consisted of simple jewelry and stockings. He was sadly mistaken when realizing he was smuggling in money. He was involved in a scam, and hated it. He found the idea irritating, and frustrating. He refused to do it again, no matter how large the reward. He was an honest man, who needed to make an honest living. Sally on the other hand, just wanted the money.

Once Cliff realizes he's agreed to let Sally move in with him, he realizes he's in for a whole new experience. Cliff, who finds himself fitting into her ideals, and Sally imposing herself in her seducing, yet manipulative ways, the two of them found themselves needing each other. Neither of them accustomed to ever really needing someone before find themselves interestingly happy, and content.

As the Wilkommen theme plays in the background, the spirit of the people of Berlin in soon to be nazi Germany, comes alive. Berlin is in a state of extreme change, struggling to overcome their inflation and poverty problems. The people are unsure of their own government and yet outgoing and comfortable in their surroundings. As Sally sang "Don't tell Mama" it gave an impression of oppression, she wasn't really singing to the people in the club, but to the world, the world she sees.

With the strains of living together and the idea of a baby and marriage the situation changed and got much tenser. Sally wanting to go back to work, singing in the club, and Cliff wanting to go back to America, the two fought, and left each other mad. Cliff left and Sally went to the club. She began her number, and Cliff ran in, and just grabbed her. He desperately wanted to get out of Berlin with her, when she revealed her devious act. She had aborted the baby and sold a fur coat to do it. Cliff was devastated and confused. He just left. He left her the ticket, and walked out. She never went after him. Funny what people who are in love do.

The beating

Some common words found in the essay are:
Kit Kat, Cliff America, Shultz Shultz, World War, Berlin Cliff, Berlin Ernst, Berlin Germany, Pennsylvania Sally, Nazi Germany, Shultz Schnieder, people germany, kit kat club, kat club, club cliff, nazi germany, realizes he's, people love, cliff shultz, funny people, funny people love, kit kat, berlin's politics,

Approximate Word count = 1423
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts