Adam Lambert Shuts Down Laughter at Antisemitic Line During 'Cabaret' Performance, Talks Importance of Show
Adam Lambert did not hesitate to take a stand when laughter broke out at an antisemitic line in a song during a recent performance of Cabaret.
If you were unaware, the 42-year-old musician is bringing the Emcee to life in the Broadway production of the classic musical.
During a recent performance, laughter broke out as Adam performed the song “If You Could See Her,” which sees him dancing with a gorilla. It’s final lines to the song are “If you could see her through my eyes / She wouldn’t look Jewish at all,” a reference to antisemitism and how it changes people’s perceptions.
His response to the laughter has been praised, prompting Adam to reflect on the importance of the show.
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On Instagram, an actor shared a public message from podcaster David Rigano.
“This afternoon at Cabaret, as you were finishing the song ‘If You Could See Her’ and you held the gorilla’s face in your hands to say ‘She wouldn’t look Jewish at all,’ you were cut off by people in the audience laughing at the joke. Not nervous laughter, not shocked laughter, but people who found the surprise that it was a Jewish gorilla legitimately funny. As I was shaking my head that we live in a world that didn’t get the point of the joke, you turned to them and – without dropping character, without dropping the accent – said, ‘No. This is not comedy. Pay attention,’” David wrote.
He continued, reflecting, “Especially the week of this inauguration, I really appreciated that. And from the applause you got for it, I feel like the rest of the audience appreciated it, as well.”
Adam shared the message on his Instagram story and penned a response.
“I really consider it a privilege to be working with such a gifted cast and creative team on a show that has so much to say about what is happening RIGHT NOW,” he wrote. “It’s been relevant since it premiered in the late 60′s and I HOPE audiences walk away THINKING and feeling empathy towards how marginalized groups can be scaptegoated as political strategy. That’s my hope and motivation every show; to pull you into an irresistible community and then make you miss us as we are stolen from you. Maybe just maybe we can change some minds.”
The musician is soon wrapping up his stint performing on the show, and a famous country music star will replace him.