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Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#25Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/20/19 at 2:59pm
Maybe I'm humor warped but I thought the line "I'm a man in love! Hand me my bra!" was very funny. My problem with Tootsie was that it buried the story lead by exchanging all of America with a single Broadway house.
#26Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/20/19 at 3:11pm
nasty_khakis said: "It does. Shethinks the doctor is bringing up her sex drive because he's coming on to her. I'm not saying it's a clear baffo-socko laugh riot of a joke, but it's a joke."
[DIANA, spoken]
I now can't feel my fingers or my toes. I sweat profusely for no reason. Fortunately, I have absolutely no desire for sex. Although, whether that's the medicine or the marriage is anybody's guess
[DR. FINE, spoken]
I'm sure it's the medicine
[DIANA, spoken]
Oh, thank you, that's very sweet, but my husband's waiting in the car.
I used to think that this was what the joke meant as well, that she thought he was coming on to her, but if you actually break the joke down it simply doesn’t make sense. Since it’s never made sense to me that way, I’ve also wondered if Diana is saying that since her husband doesn’t even come into her appointments and instead waits in the car, the doctor is being “sweet” for implying that it’s the medicine’s fault she doesn’t have a desire for sex, as opposed to her messed up marriage.
InTheBathroom1
Broadway Star Joined: 10/6/18
#27Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/20/19 at 3:18pm
First, I think everyone’s over analyzing the N2N joke a little too much.
Second, I saw Gentleman’s Guide on tour about a year ago and was surprised how much of that fell flat. Especially “Better With A Man” which now comes off as a little homophobic
#28Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/20/19 at 5:36pm
I thought Tootsie had a funny, quick-moving book (despite not liking the score too much), but the quick gag about choreography stolen wholesale from The Birdcage made me roll my eyes an almost complete 360.
#29Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/21/19 at 10:13am
In "Waitress," Old Joe calls out Jenna about hiding her pregnancy. He can tell by looking at her that she's pregnant, letting her know he's seen that look on a woman's face. He says something like, "I've seen that look on a woman's face before. Name was Annette. I made sweet love to her all through the summer of 1948. She got that sick look on her face like you had all through the fall. I almost married her right up. She lost the baby, though." And then the actor waits a beat for the punch line before saying, "Close call."
I've seen this production live twice in two different cities, and each time, the audience gasps.
bettyco
Chorus Member Joined: 3/28/19
#30Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/21/19 at 10:35am
In "Learn to Do It" in Anastasia when Dimitri gets hit in the face with the chalkboard. I have never heard an audience laugh at that.
#31Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/21/19 at 11:02am
There was a really lame joke about cheese early in Tootsie's Chicago tryout (something like "this cheese is so sharp you have to hand it over backwards" ), which I only remember because whoever it was that kept seeing and reporting on it in the thread here kept very close track of its comings and goings. It's almost funnier that they apparently were so devoted to it that it departed and returned multiple times. Curious to know if it's still in there.
Updated On: 5/21/19 at 11:02 AM
#32Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/21/19 at 11:08amUpdated On: 5/21/19 at 11:08 AM
#33Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/21/19 at 11:13amI get why it's there, and why Jared would say it, but it also extracts you from the moment. Granted, I haven't seen DEH since Second Stage.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
MollyJeanneMusic
Broadway Star Joined: 3/10/19
#34Jokes In Musicals That...Just Don't Work?
Posted: 5/21/19 at 11:18amAs a high school student, I have heard much worse than Jared’s line. Unfortunately, there are some teenagers who joke about tragedies and get away with it, so for me, the line establishes Jared’s character perfectly. The reason the audience is nervously laughing is because the kids all instantly realize, “Ohhh, he’s one of THOSE kids.”
"I think that when a movie says it was 'based on a true story,' oh, it happened - just with uglier people." - Peanut Walker, Shucked
Micki7
Swing Joined: 7/6/18
#36GGLAM
Posted: 5/21/19 at 1:33pm
InTheBathroom1 said: "First, I think everyone’s over analyzing the N2N joke a little too much.
Second, I saw Gentleman’s Guide on tour about a year ago and was surprised how much of that fell flat. Especially “Better With A Man” which now comes off as a little homophobic"
It was always homophobic, on paper. Jefferson Mays has the exceptional talent of pulling it off while seeming genuine and coy.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
Updated On: 5/21/19 at 01:33 PM
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#38A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 2:38pm
"No. Not even figs. Raisins.
Ah, Liaisons."
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 5/21/19 at 02:38 PM
#39A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 3:32pm
Roscoe said: ""No. Not even figs. Raisins.
Ah, Liaisons."
Brilliant.
#40A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 6:03pmIn every Oklahoma! production I've seen the audience doesn't really seem to get the joke about Will Parker getting $50 but spending it all on presents.
#41A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 6:07pm
"I love play rehearsal" from Be More Chill made me cringe really hard. Does that count?
Miss Keisha? Miss Keisha? Miss Keishhhaaaa?
#42A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 6:43pm
YvanEhtNioj said: ""I love play rehearsal" from Be More Chill made me cringe really hard. Does that count?"
Oh god. It’s such an awful song made even worse with that awful self-harm joke that I cannot fathom made it past that initial regional run.
runaways
Swing Joined: 1/14/12
#43A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 6:54pm
There are several in Shrek:
"...called me a hot and tranny mess" from "Story of my Life"
The Scientologist line from "Freak Flag."
That said, I love that show.
#44A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 7:24pm
TotallyEffed said: "nasty_khakis said: "It does. Shethinks the doctor is bringing up her sex drive because he's coming on to her. I'm not saying it's a clear baffo-socko laugh riot of a joke, but it's a joke."
[DIANA, spoken]
I now can't feel my fingers or my toes.I sweat profusely for no reason. Fortunately, I have absolutely no desire for sex. Although, whether that's the medicine or the marriage is anybody's guess
[DR. FINE, spoken]
I'm sure it's the medicine
[DIANA, spoken]
Oh, thank you, that's very sweet, but my husband's waiting in the car.
I used to think that this was what the joke meant as well, that she thought he was coming on to her, but if you actually break the joke down it simply doesn’t make sense. Since it’s never made sense to me that way, I’ve alsowondered ifDiana is sayingthat since her husband doesn’t even come into her appointments and instead waits in the car,the doctor is being “sweet” for implying that it’s the medicine’s fault she doesn’t have a desire for sex, as opposed to her messed up marriage."
I've never seen the show but I agree you are overthinking this. I believe she just means "he's in the car; you don't have to lie to spare his feelings". That's funny!
#45A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 7:32pm
Valentina3 said: "InTheBathroom1 said: "First, I think everyone’s over analyzing the N2N joke a little too much.
Second, I saw Gentleman’s Guide on tour about a year ago and was surprised how much of that fell flat. Especially “Better With A Man” which now comes off as a little homophobic"
It was always homophobic, on paper. Jefferson Mays has the exceptional talent of pulling it off while seeming genuine and coy.
"
John Rapson, who took over Mays' part for the tour, wasn't remotely up to the task. Most of his jokes fell flat. It was a shame because it was a great cast otherwise, but the play hinges on that one, needs-to-be-bravura performance. Rapson may be talented, but under the pressure of that part, he reminded me of character actors cast in non-union summer stock.
LLW2
Understudy Joined: 5/27/18
#46A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 7:52pm
GavestonPS said: "I've never seen the show but I agree you are overthinking this. I believe she just means "he's in the car; you don't have to lie to spare his feelings". That's funny!"
No, I have the TCG published version of the script (ordered from Amazon), and it includes a direction that Diana is flattered by the doctor's comment:
DOCTOR FINE: I'm sure it's the medicine.
DIANA (Flattered): Oh, thank you, that's very sweet. But my husband's waiting in the car.
I suppose the humor is in how out of touch she is with reality, although I agree that it's not very funny.
#47A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 9:16pm
Tons in Tootsie. Can't remember specifics, but I do remember cringing multiple times. That being said, they did have some good ones!
#48A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/21/19 at 9:52pm
GavestonPS said: "Valentina3 said: "InTheBathroom1 said: "First, I think everyone’s over analyzing the N2N joke a little too much.
Second, I saw Gentleman’s Guide on tour about a year ago and was surprised how much of that fell flat. Especially “Better With A Man” which now comes off as a little homophobic"
It was always homophobic, on paper. Jefferson Mays has the exceptional talent of pulling it off while seeming genuine and coy."
John Rapson, who took over Mays' part for the tour, wasn't remotely up to the task. Most of his jokes fell flat. It was a shame because it was a great cast otherwise, but the play hinges on that one, needs-to-be-bravura performance. Rapson may be talented, but under the pressure of that part, he reminded me of character actors cast in non-union summer stock."
Oh I completely agree. I couldn't believe how flat that tour was. I saw it on Broadway, thought it was fun (what I'd do to sit on Bryce Pinkham's lap like Phoebe and have him look at me with those endearing eyes for even just a minute), and then it won the Tonys which was like.. yeah okay nothing better was up that year. And then I saw it on tour with Rapson and simply couldn't understand how they expected him to fill in Mays' shoes. It is almost too much to ask for.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
rattleNwoolypenguin
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/11
#49A Little Night Music
Posted: 5/22/19 at 12:19am
A lot in Legally Blonde falls flat to me.
Paulette has a few duds “I’m like All State but for hair”
“You drink a lot of Red Bull!” “IT GIVES ME ENERGY!”
Pretty lame low hanging fruit joke.
I hate the joke from Wicked,
“Lemons and melons and pears, oh my!”
It doesn’t even get any lower low hanging fruit jokes though than Young Frankenstein the musical
