Synopsis Of Cabaret

Act One:

At the beginning of the play you are introduced to Clifford Bradshaw, or Cliff as he is later known. Cliff is a struggling american writer searching for a place to live in berlin and offering to teach english lessons for extra money. He is met on the train by Ernst Ludwig, a charming and friendly German, who  Cliff catches smuggling a bag past the ticket officer. Cliff says nothing and Ernst is instantly warmed to him, as a way of thanking Cliff for his cooperation Ernst gives Cliff the name of a Boarding House and the landlady in Berlin, with rooms at a price which Cliff can Afford. He also repays him by inviting Cliff to join him at the infamous Kit Kat Klub, which Ernst describes as "The hottest spot in Berlin!" Ernst also hints to Cliff that he might have found his first english pupil. 

Cliff reaches said boarding house and it met by Frauline Schneider, an elderly lady who takes great care in her appearance and tries, but doesn't necessarily always succeed at running a tight ship within her boarding house. After a short debate they settle on a price, 50 marks, as that is all Cliff can afford for his room and he moves in.

Now he has found a place to live, Cliff visits the Kit Kat Klub, previously described to him as the "hottest spot in all of berlin" Although it is little more than a seedy Cabaret, celebrating all things decadent, raucous and outrageous. Ignoring all the outside worlds problems and the subtle changes the Nazi regime are putting in place. Once at the Klub, Cliff is introduced to a young, beautiful and charismatic singer, Sally Bowels. Sally is english and takes a sudden liking to Cliff and they spend the evening Flirting openly. She finds a book on the table "Mein Kampf" (a book written by Adolf Hitler) She thinks this is Cliff's novel but he explains that he is reading is to get a better understanding of Germany and Politics. Ernst apologetically interrupts with important news on a trip to paris to collect a briefcase, the job will pay 75 marks! Sally is overjoyed at the thought of so much money and agree's on Cliff's behalf. Cliff also agree's on the condition that Ersnt doesn't tell him what's in the briefcase. 

The next day Cliff is just finishing giving Ernst an english lesson as Sally Bowels walks in distressed, The owner of the Kit Kat Klub Max saw Cliff and Sally's flirtations the previous night and had become so jealous he fired her. Leaving her with no money and no where to live! Cliff and Sally convince Frauline Schneider to allow Sally to live with Cliff although for the time this settlement of living conditions was considered very strange.

Following this, Frauline Kost, another of Frauline Schneider's Lodgers is caught with two sailers under questionable circumstances. Frauline Schneider is all to aware of whats going on and attempts to put her foot down although she cares for all her lodgers and doesn't quite succeed in giving Frauline Kost the telling off she wanted to. Mid argument Heir Schultz, a Jewish fruit shop owner walks in to greet Frauline Schenider with yet another present, he has previously given her pears, and apples. But this time he has given her a pineapple, a luxurious, exotic and costly present for the time. Frauline Schneider is so overwhelmed she explains to Schultz she needs to lie down, he goes with her. Frauline Kost see's Schultz and Schneider together and explains how they're not so different after all. Filled with outrage Schultz explains that him and Schneider were only alone together so that he could ask for her hand in marriage. Of course this was a lie to protect Schneiders reputation, however once thinking about it they both decide on being engaged and hold a celebratory party and Heir Schultz's fruit shop!

At the engagement party there is singing and dancing, Cliff arrives with a suitcase after going on a trip to paris for Ernst and him and Sally give the newly engaged couple a present, a large crystal fruit bowl. Herr Schults and Frauline Schneider accept it graciously.  Ernst arrives at the party wearing a nazi armband, Cliff is shocked but says nothing, Sally isn't aware of what Cliff has just potentially done for the nazi party. Ernst goes over to congratulate the happy couple but takes Frauline Scheider aside and expresses how he doesn't think marrying Herr Schultz is a good idea, Schneider argues back that he lives in Germany, but Ersnt only explain again that he is not german. He is a Jew. Cliff goes up to Ernst and questions him about his reasons for joining the Nazi Regime. He inquires if Ernst has read "Mein Kampf" and Ernst says yes, its his leaders book. Cliff appears shocked and wonders how anyone could agree with Adolf Hitlers theory's. After all the commotion we find out that Sally and Cliff are expecting a baby. They haven't told anyone as Sally is keen to get her job back at the Kit Kat Klub.

Act Two: 

Fraulin Schneider enters carrying the large fruit bowl Sally and Cliff gave her as an engagement present. She has come to return is as there is no longer an engagement, Schenider has been scared by Ernst's words and is worried that if the Nazi's come into power (which is becoming more and more likely) they will shut her boarding house down, her only source of income. Cliff Tries to reassure her and says she can't give up like this, but she disagrees. She explains that Cliff and Sally could run away to anywhere in the world and bring up a family, but she is old Germany is where she will stay but she can't run the risk of being married to a Jew. 

After Frauline Schneider has left, Cliff tells Sally that he is taking her back to America with him, it will be a safer place to raise their child. Sally protests and explains how wonderful Berlin is (dressed to go out) Sally begins discussing German politics and how she doesn't believe it has anything to do with them, nor will it affect them directly. Sally is also mentioning that she wants her job back at the Kit Kat Klub but she knows Cliff will refuse and does. Cliff is getting more and more frustrated with Sally's head-in-the-sand approach and tells her to "Wake up" Insulted by this Sally puts on her expensive fur coat and storms out. 

Cliff goes off in search of Sally and finds her at the Klub, she has her old job back and is going on stage to perform. Whilst waiting for her, Cliff sits in the audience and is approached by Ernst ludgwig, he offers him another job for more money but Cliff refuses, Ernst is persistent and said that he is helping the Nazi's build a better Germany. Cliff replies to Ernst by saying "go to hell" only to then be dragged out of the Klub by Ernst and his Nazi bodyguards and beaten up very badly. 

The next morning, back at their appartment. Sally enters to find a very bruised Cliff packing their bags. Cliff asks sally why she didn't come home, Sally explains she was at the doctors and looks very cold without her coat. Cliff asks Sally why she was at the doctors all night and had her coat been stolen, Sally can't bring herself to say the exact words but begins talking about the greedy doctor taking her coat. Cliff soon realises Sally has sold her coat to terminate her pregnancy, filled with rage he slaps her. With tears in her eyes Sally says she always ruins her relationships with men even the ones who have been kind to her like Cliff. Heartbroken, Cliff leaves, and explains that he will be going to Paris and then on to America. Leaving her train ticket on the table he hopes she will join him. The scene ends with Cliff once again on the train, writing about how there was once a City called Berlin, the Kit Kat Klub and a woman called Sally Bowles and they were both asleep.