I’ve probably received as many emails during the first two weeks of Cabaret as I receive for the entire run of most shows.  A few of my favorites:

“Ann, Noreen and I got to see Cabaret last night and it was overwhelming.  It was one of the most powerful statements and performances that I have ever seen.  I especially thought the second act was tremendous.  And, what a message about prejudices, biases and treatment of other people!  It made me proud to be associated with PCS and to be a citizen of a great city that produces performances of this caliber with such a bold message to the theater in Portland!  Thank you and you should be very proud of this accomplishment.”

- Mark Edlen, Gerding/Edlen Development

“Dear Chris:

I am writing to congratulate you on Cabaret - it’s an excellent production.

I am also hoping that you can change the ending back to the preview night I saw.

I am a volunteer usher at PCS and several theaters around town.  I see about 50 shows a year.  I say this just so you know I am not a “once in awhile” theater attendee.

I have seen Cabaret twice, once on Thurs. preview, Sept. 27th and again at the Sunday matinee, Oct. 7.

What made this play so moving for me was seeing Herr Schultz come out in his concentration camp robe.  I felt this moment was theater at its finest, it provoked an intense visceral reaction in me.  The true horror of the Holocaust was revealed at that moment.

We spent two hours falling in love with this sweet man and pure evil took him from us.  I was devastated.  My husband and I discussed the show for 2 hours afterward and applauded your courage of this very appropriate ending.

On Sunday afternoon I came with a group of 20 and I was shocked to see that Herr Schultz came out in his regular suit at the end of the play.  Most of my party seemed more upset at intermission than at the end.

This decision diluted the impact of the entire show.  We should not leave the theater wondering what happened to that sweet man by pretending that everything was ok.  We should leave the theater horrifed by the reality.

Please reconsider the ending.  You have the sexy and steamy part just right.  Now please bring back the one moment that reveals the evil behind the Nazi party.”

-Michelle Cheney

[Editor's note:  We tried about six different versions of the ending, and landed on the one with Herr Schultz back in his suit, because we were afraid audience members wouldn't know who he was.  But given Michelle's letter, I am considering returning to the choice she remembered so vividly.]

“Dear Chris:

So I think my sister summed it up best at intermission, ‘ . . . Maybe This Time was the best live performance I have ever heard, period.’  Amazing in the good old fashioned sense of the word.  It gives me chill bumps to think of it.  It wasn’t just something to hear, but to experience.  Wow.

‘Where did he find these people?’ was another of her musings.  Living in the Bay Area with in-laws in New York City, she was a little prejudiced about what she was going to experience here in the backwaters of Oregon.

And how ironic (and disturbing) that as we took a walk through the neighborhood Saturday morning, we were confronted with red graffiti on the walls of a home and businesses on Alberta, stars of David and the word ‘JEWS!!!’ (including the exclamation points).

Thank you for continuing to create great theater.”

- Teri Rowan