I Am a Camera: A Play in Three Acts

With a stringently photographic eye, I am a Camera looks at life in a tawdry Berlin rooming house, circa 1930, and concerns itself with the mercurial and irresponsible moods of Sally Bowles. She is a creature of extravagent attitudes, given to parading her vices and enormously confident that she is going to take life in stride. Fond of describing herself as an "extraordinary interesting person," she is vaguely disturbing. We watch her make frightened arrangements for an illegal operation; seize at the tinseled escape offered by a rich and worthless American playboy; and attempt to rehabilitate herself and fail ludicrously. We are caught up in the complete and almost unbearable reality of this girl. Principal confident to Sally Bowles, Christopher Isherwood serves as narrator. He is the camera eye of the title, attracted to Sally, yet dispassionate about her. Though Sally is the chief point of interest, the plight of the Jew in Germany in the early 30's is brought within focus in a few touching scenes.