[sange]

Hello! My high school is doing a production of Cabaret this fall.

This is just an observation, but the director seems to be racially accurate with castings... for instance no non-white people were casted in our production of The Sound of Music despite the nonwhite talent... maybe because there weren't black/asians/indians in 1930 Austria? I am not here to argue about that, because it is just my observations and I might be wrong... the point of this topic:would a Black Sally make historical sense and if so why/extra info? Thanks for any replies.

[The Duchess of Mint]

Dear sange,

I personally think that Sally's physical appearance can be really interesting, because the subject matter of Cabaret is so jarring and racially relevant.

These are my views with regards to different types of Sallies:

NOTE: To understand my ideas about the various types of Sallies, one must understand that I think that Sally is a young woman who, wittingly, or unwittingly, becomes a symbolic murderer...in other words, her final decision represents a mild form of the Nazi theology. While Sally may be <SPOILER> aborting her child because of her non-committal beliefs, her abortion is eerily symbolic of the Nazi practice of aborting anyone who stood in the way of the Nazi theology.

The Blonde Sally: She literally represents the Arian woman, who makes way for the Nazi takeover without argument or forethought.

The Brownette (Brown-Haired) Sally: The brownette Sally is close to the blonde Sally. She may be perceived as being more practical, and more career-oriented than the blonde Sally.

The Brunette Sally: The brunette Sally vaguely symbolizes the Jewish people, who will be labeled as "The Enemies" by the Nazis; the brunette Sally is a hypocrite, because she betrays her symbolic element(s) by retreating, instead of defending her symbolic element(s) by standing up for herself (and by aborting a future life).

The Red-Haired Sally: The red-haired Sally is fiery and impulsive, and she represents the inner torment of pre-WW2 Germany. She might be having the abortion in order to rebel against what she sees as a worthless social system.

The African American Sally: I know that this will probably sound very racist, but I think that the race of an African American Sally can be incorporated very greatly into the plot of Cabaret. The AA Sally slightly represents the Jewish people, but she also represents an interracial relationship; Sally knows that outside of the cabaret, people won't accept she and her Caucasian lover, even if she marries that lover. In addition, she knows that the people outside of the cabaret will never, ever accept an baby who is of more than one race! She knows in her heart that the Nazis are taking over, and she feels that she might as well retreat into the role which society expects her to take (the single, AA female entertainer, who may or may not have wild, non-marital relationships with one or more men).

I think that there's one fact about Sally which nobody can ignore: the woman is a terrible coward! If one realizes that, then they'll know how to portray Sally, no matter what race they may be.

Blonde Sally: Too cowardly to stand up for what's humane
Brownette Sally: Too cowardly to try to balance work with family
Brunette Sally: Too cowardly to stand up for her symbolic significance
African American Sally: Too cowardly to stand up for her race and for her beliefs.

Thanks in advance for your reply. I am not trying to be racist. The character of Sally is not the actress who's portraying her, so a very smart, proud-of-her-background African American woman can portray Sally brilliantly, without turning her own self into a coward.

[sange]

Yes thanks, thanks, thanks a lot! Your reply has given me a lot of insight.

[what_the_heck013]

In High School, nobody looks at details like that.

[Salome]

they should.

many high school actually do meaningful theatre.

[rock_musicals]

Cool idea. I'd really like to see a black Sally. There WERE black people living in Germany in that time period, but not very many (I have read a book on the effects of Nazi Germany on African-descent people).

[rock_musicals]

It edited my post! Where ---- it should say something to the effect of "Naatzi".

[MidnightGypsie]

I think a black Sally would be cool. It opens up a lot of ground for character building and it could make the whole show much more interesting (not that it isn't intresting already). The only problem that the production may face is the actress playing Sally as if she were white. There is definatly a difference in the way Black women and white women were treated and acted in WWII Germany. If a black Sally acted as though she were Arian, it would throw the whole show off and make it seem unrealistic. All in all, I'm all for it if it is acted correctly.

[pish123c]

[benjivaudeville]

[MidnightGypsie]

That is exactly what I meant.

A woman who had no reason to fear the Nazi's in that time period would act completley different compared to a woman who did have cause to fear. For example, in a showing of Cabaret that I saw last year, Sally seemed to almost support the Nazi party. If Sally was being played by an African American, I feel it would not fit to preform the part in the frame of mind that Sally was in no danger. Because in reality, she would be targeted.

But this is just my oppinion. I mean no offense whatsoever.