BoM Q: How do they get their vests on?

[lenstersf]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 1:57pm

In "Turn It Off" how do the guys put on their vests so quickly in the dark? I'm guessing they have a shirt on top of the vests (and another shirt underneath), and rip off the top shirt. Any one know?

[WhatIWasBorn2Do]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 2:24pm

All I know is that Elder Price randomly joins in when the lights turn back on, and Elder Cunningham is usually sitting back down on one of the couch cushions. Maybe Price collects the over shirts (or distributes the vests) and Cunningham hides them? Just a thought.

[TBFL]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 4:04pm

I think the change is too quick for the vests to be distributed in the blackout. my guess would be that they already have them on them, folded up somewhere. Im really looking forward to seeing the London production on the 4th

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 4:15pm

During my third time seeing the show I tried to watch closely and it seems like their vests are tucked into their pants. I wonder if during a performance if someone failed to get their vest on as it seems like they only have 15 seconds or so during the blackout.

[choitoy]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 5:04pm

When I went to the touring version in Seattle, I splurged and got close seats to the show. It looked like the vests are tucked into their pants like a giant cummerbund, and gets pulled up over their heads like a halter top in the dark. When we saw it, one of the Mormons didn't quite get the bottom into the right position, so the bottom was flipped up, and it looked like there was an elastic band that connects the front of the "vest" around the back. Elder Price seems to takes his off quickly after the number, and there is so much commotion and handclapping by the audience after the number that I don't notice how he takes his off though before the next scene where he strips down to his Mormon undies.

[KylePKJP]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 5:41pm

In the Broadway company, the Elders played by Ben Schrader and Justin Bohon were not on stage when Price and Cunningham arrived at the missionary residence in Uganda. There was only Rory O'Malley, Brian Sears, Jason Michael Snow, Kevin Duda, and Scott Burhardt. Bohon and Schrader are off stage until the second clap/blackout in Turn It Off.

The second blackout is slightly longer, and Schrader and Bohon brought out the vests and join the tap dance. I believe they go over the elders' heads and magnatize at the centre seam in the back and velcro would be too difficult to align in the dark.

EDIT: I think Price was added to the tap dance both as a point of comedy and also to mask the obviousness of two ensemble members having joined the number mid-way.

Updated On: 2/24/13 at 05:41 PM

Posted: 2/24/13 at 5:54pm

It's a miracle.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 6:27pm

It's a nifty little Mormon trick.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/24/13 at 6:34pm

Price just takes it off when he sits back down on the couch next to Elder Cunningham.

Elders Schrader/ben Widmar/Gale and Elder Zelder are always the ones who come in during the blackout.

ACL2006's summary is correct. :) I've never seen an ensemble Elder mess up -- but I have with a couple of Elder Prices.