4- Macy’s Jazz

 Rehearsal Log 4

“Money”

Session Summary:

This session was focused on further developing my character as the Emcee, specifically through acting-based movements and interactions with other characters to convey the idea of me walking down a street in the scene. The groups I interacted with included nuns, prostitutes, drunkards, robbers, and corrupt police officers. For each of these groups, I had to adapt my character’s reaction, making sure everything was timed perfectly and fit the flow of the scene. Additionally, we introduced a prop a handkerchief that I must conceal, only to have it stolen halfway through the walking section. The challenge was not just to act in a way that suited each group, but to remain in character while timing my reactions to the choreography and the interaction with props.

The character’s journey through these encounters is essential in shaping the Emcee’s complexity. My goal is to maintain his unpredictability between being charming, sinister, and flamboyant ensuring I’m always in control of the scene.

Personal Observation:
A significant part of the session was spent working with Macy on how to physically embody the Emcee’s unique personality. We explored how he would walk, stand, and hold himself. I’m still working on fully inhabiting his flamboyant yet sinister nature, and I’m finding that it’s a delicate balance. It’s easy to fall into exaggeration, but Macy encouraged me to think about how the Emcee’s confidence stems from his need to perform and to control the environment around him. This has been a challenge, but I’m gradually starting to get a clearer understanding of how to layer his complexity.

Macy also gave me some great advice for acting in general: you have to approach each performance as though it’s the first time you’ve done it. Even though the lines or movements may be familiar, the key is to make each moment feel spontaneous and alive. This advice really resonated with me, as I often catch myself relying too much on repetition. By making each interaction feel fresh, I’ll be able to maintain authenticity in my portrayal.

Additionally, the walk I take in the scene is more than just a physical movement it reflects the Emcee’s psychology and how he views the world around him. This has pushed me to think more deeply about how to make my movements speak for the character, especially with such a complex role.

Research:
To deepen my understanding of the Emcee character, I explored how other actors have interpreted the role. Each portrayal brings a different nuance to the character, and this research is helping me identify aspects of the Emcee I want to explore further in my own performance.

• Joel Grey (1966): Grey’s portrayal of the Emcee was playful, mischievous, and flirtatious, with a focus on the entertainment aspect of the character. His Emcee provided an escape from the harsh realities of the world outside the Kit Kat Klub. His performance was charming and light-hearted, which made his character less overtly confrontational, despite the underlying political tension of the time. Grey’s Emcee was more about escapism, offering humor and levity rather than directly confronting the political themes of the era. This interpretation highlights the importance of creating a charismatic character who masks darker undertones with humor.

  Joel Grey Emcee Performance

• Alan Cumming (1998 & 1999): Cumming’s portrayal brought a much darker, more aggressive energy to the Emcee. His performance was filled with intensity, blending a dangerous sexuality with a cynical, almost predatory attitude. Cumming’s Emcee engaged directly with the political climate of the Weimar Republic, making the character feel more menacing and unsettling. His Emcee was not just a performer; he was a symbol of the political and social turmoil of the time. There’s a sense of tragic foreboding in his portrayal, as he both relishes in and suffers from the collapse of society. This version is intense and confrontational, and I find it fascinating how Cumming uses the Emcee’s sexuality and cynicism as tools to reflect the societal chaos of the era.

  Alan Cumming Emcee Performance

• Eddie Redmayne (2014): Redmayne’s portrayal took a more vulnerable approach. His Emcee was emotionally fragile, with a dreamlike, almost haunting quality. This interpretation focused on the emotional instability of the character, rather than the cynicism or overt sexuality seen in other portrayals. Redmayne’s Emcee was caught in a tension between the performance he put on for the audience and the reality of the growing political dangers outside the Kit Kat Klub. There was a deep sense of personal loss in Redmayne’s performance, a feeling that he was trapped in his role and haunted by the world around him. This portrayal struck me as being the most emotionally exposed, as Redmayne’s Emcee constantly struggled between playing to the audience and dealing with his own internal turmoil. His version gave the character a vulnerability that felt very human and relatable.

  Eddie Redmayne Emcee Performance

  Redmayne's Opening Scene

What I can do to progress for next lesson:

• Watch and analyze the different portrayals of the Emcee, paying attention to how each actor uses their physicality, energy, and emotional depth to inform their performance.

• Explore different acting methods, such as Stanislavski’s system or Meisner technique, to find a deeper connection to the Emcee’s psychology and motivations.

• Continue listening to the track and immerse myself in the music to align my character’s movements and timing with the rhythm and mood of the song. Understanding the musicality will help me connect more with the overall performance.

Experiment with different walks and physicalities for the Emcee. I’ll try to refine the balance between flamboyance and menace, as well as how to use my body to reflect the character’s internal conflict.

References- 

1. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (2023). Money (feat. Eddie Redmayne) | Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (2021 London Cast Recording). [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5HhhXldXuM.
2. JB Florece (2024). Cabaret – Eddie Redmayne | 2024 Tony Awards (Full Performance). [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-72JzwoMMA.
3. LeaYola (2011). MONEY - Alan Cumming - Cabaret. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXjN9UKZwLE [Accessed 3 Dec. 2024].
4. Sheriff Reynolds (2013). Cabaret - ‘Money’ - Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBtn2NQ5k58 [Accessed 5 Aug. 2020].