Choosing My Character ♡

I have found it difficult to decide on the historic recreation I'm going to choose. I have been drawn to Fraulein Kost but I have noticed her character to change between each screenplay/film/script. I have found it difficult to completely pin point who she was as conflicting scenes have conveyed two totally different people.

In the screenplay Rehearsal Resource Packet, in the description about Fraulein Kost it says 'Frl.Schroeder really quite likes Frl.Kost and certainly hasn't any moral objections to her trade' but
this contradicts the idea I had been given from script -

In this scene, there is a dispute between Frl Kost and Frl Schroeder regarding her prostitution activities within the house. Frl Sch expressed how she was disgusted and that she would have to inform the police if this happened one more time. Frl Kost tells her  to not expect any rent if she isn't selling her body, her response to Frl Sch is confident, self assured and brazen. This gave me the impression that Frl Kost was outspoken and this particular scene really painted an impression of her that I liked. I was drawn to how  upfront she was regarding her trade and that in order for her to pay her rent, she needed to continue with the sailors. The fact she sees what she does a means to and end says a lot about her character.

Frl Kost, is a comical character, and it is easy to overlook her hardship with her witty one liners and  assume that she she is just a prostitute.  The character is a metaphor for the economic problems facing Germany in 1930s. The country was bankrupt with rampant inflation and high unemployment. Kost is in theory a comedic character but she is also a tragic character who has no choice but to sell her body if she is going to survive. 

I don't want to focus on the fact she is a prostitute, so my chosen scene will be one that reflects her as a person. With this character, you have to read in between the lines to discover who she is, as opposed to Sally Bowles who's persona can be identified and sussed within a few sentences. 

I have already touched upon the fact Kost is a typical German stereotype, but in Act 1 Scene 12, they are at a party, and Kost makes a comment regarding the Jews - 'They have all the money, the Jews'. I think this is a really interesting concept, that such a likeable character can have this opinion. I suppose there is no way to dress up racist comments, and I guess its hard in this day and age to look back and imagine that people genuinely believed it was the Jews who were at fault, but I suppose it would have been a very common opinion, especially to an every day German lady.

The scene I have chosen, that I feel best represents Frl Kost, in all her patriotic glory is Act 1 Scene 12 when she begins to sing 'Tomorrow Belongs To Me'. This song, is a turning point in her character for me. The lyrics when spoken (without the joyful backing music that give it a really odd and humorous feel) makes you feel an overwhelming amount of empathy for her, and truly lets you connect with the reality of the survivor she is.

'But gather together to greet the storm, Tomorrow belongs to me' - This shows that despite her bouncy blonde bob and late night romps, she is totally aware that the worst is still to come,  but that there is hope in her voice, and strength. It also shows that her inner confidence and self worth hasn't been tainted by her career.