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I Am a Camera
Author(s): John Van Druten
Sally Bowles struggles with her enormously theatrical personality as German life changes during the Nazis’ rise to power. Mr. Isherwood acts as narrator for her story and a “camera” for Sally’s life.
Format: Full-length drama
Cast Size: 3M/4F
Character breakdown
Christopher Isherwood
Fraulein Schneider
Fritz Wendel
Sally Bowles
Natalia Landauer
Clive Mortimer
Mrs. Watson-Courtneidge
Snapshot
Original or Prominent Production: The original production was staged by John Van Druten, with scenic and lighting design by Boris Aronsonand costumes by Ellen Goldsborough. It opened at the Empire Theatre in New York City on November 28, 1951 and ran for 214 performances before closing on July 12, 1952. The production was a critically acclaimed success for both Julie Harris as the insouciant Sally Bowles, winning her the first of four Tony Awards of her career for Best Leading Actress in a play, and for Marian Winters, who won both the Theatre World Award and Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Play. The play also won for John Van Druten the New York Drama Critics' Circle for Best American Play (1952). However it also earned the famous review by Walter Kerr, "Me no Leica".
Original Source Material: Adapted from Christopher Isherwood's novel Goodbye to Berlin, which is part of The Berlin Stories. The title is a quote taken from the novel's first page: "I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking." Original Language: English
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