Cliff--gay or straight?

Jennifer Lynn · Cliff--gay or straight?

In the various versions of this show (short stories, non-musical play, non-musical movie, 1966 stage show, movie, 1987 revival, 1998 revival) the character based on Christopher Isherwood has been variously straight, bi, or gay.

I can see why they'd go the bi/gay route since Isherwood himself was gay. But could you make a case that the story works a little better with Cliff a straight man?

Hear me out. One of the tragedies of the story is supposed to be that Sally, in her self-deception, rejects a life with Cliff in order to stay in Berlin to pursue a non-existent career, and that she'll most likely end up drinking or drugging herself to death like her friend Elsie.

Now, if Cliff is gay, the life she rejects probably wouldn't have lasted anyway. They even acknowledge this in the movie ("How long would it be before you... [can't go on living the heterosexual life?]") and in the revival ("I'd run off with the first exciting thing...or you would." "I wouldn't run away...not with a baby to..." "Hold us together? Isn't that a terrible burden for a little infant?"). Therefore, it doesn't seem like Sally is really giving up all that much. It almost makes her choice look noble, not self-deluded or self-destructive.

But if Cliff is straight, then Sally is giving up what could be a real chance at a lasting love and a happy life. Which makes her choice that much more tragic. Instead of taking a chance that such a life might hold fulfillment for her, she decides to waste her life on a career that will never move beyond a third-rate dive.

So...what do you think?

kaplonski

I think, and this I believe comes out in the dialogue (at least in the 1987 script) that he's primarily gay, but truly is in love with Sally. Possibly the only woman he's ever loved or will be in love with. Which also makes her leaving him tragic, I think.

But perhaps I'm merely putting my own experiences on the character, who knows?

maya17

I think the line in the scene where Sally asks Cliff if she can stay with him pretty much clears this discussion up..

"It's not the sort of thing you go around advertising"

Maybe it's just me, but I thought it was very obvious from this line that Cliff is gay.

the.emcee

Well obviously in the '98 revival he is Bisexual. I think he just has gay tendencies

Jennifer Lynn	Cliff--gay or straight? In the various versions of this show (short stories, non-musical play, non-musical movie, 1966 stage show, movie, 1987 revival, 1998 revival) the character based on Christopher Isherwood has been variously straight, bi, or gay. I can see why they'd go the bi/gay route since Isherwood himself was gay. But could you make a case that the story works a little better with Cliff a straight man? Hear me out. One of the tragedies of the story is supposed to be that Sally, in her self-deception, rejects a life with Cliff in order to stay in Berlin to pursue a non-existent career, and that she'll most likely end up drinking or drugging herself to death like her friend Elsie. Now, if Cliff is gay, the life she rejects probably wouldn't have lasted anyway. They even acknowledge this in the movie ("How long would it be before you... [can't go on living the heterosexual life?]") and in the revival ("I'd run off with the first exciting thing...or you would." "I wouldn't run away...not with a baby to..." "Hold us together? Isn't that a terrible burden for a little infant?"). Therefore, it doesn't seem like Sally is really giving up all that much. It almost makes her choice look noble, not self-deluded or self-destructive. But if Cliff is straight, then Sally is giving up what could be a real chance at a lasting love and a happy life. Which makes her choice that much more tragic. Instead of taking a chance that such a life might hold fulfillment for her, she decides to waste her life on a career that will never move beyond a third-rate dive. So...what do you think?
kaplonski	I think, and this I believe comes out in the dialogue (at least in the 1987 script) that he's primarily gay, but truly is in love with Sally. Possibly the only woman he's ever loved or will be in love with. Which also makes her leaving him tragic, I think. But perhaps I'm merely putting my own experiences on the character, who knows?
maya17	I think the line in the scene where Sally asks Cliff if she can stay with him pretty much clears this discussion up.. "It's not the sort of thing you go around advertising" Maybe it's just me, but I thought it was very obvious from this line that Cliff is gay.
the.emcee	Well obviously in the '98 revival he is Bisexual. I think he just has gay tendencies

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Cliff--gay or straight?