Question for those who have seen a production of Caroline, or Change

[rjm516]

You know the part towards the end, when Caroline breaks and releases all her rage onto Noah? And he says something about hell, and she spits with all her venom "Hell is where Jews go when they die." 

When you saw it, was that a laugh line? Because in my London audience, everyone laughed at that - and not like nervous or tense laughter that you'd expect from it, but true laughter like it was a funny joke. My husband and I were horrified - but is that usually how it plays? Can anyone comment? 

 

[GeorgeandDot]

I recall gasps when I saw the original production. Very disturbing that, that line would get laughs.

[MrsSallyAdams]

No laughs though I vaguely recall a whispered "what did she say?"

[rjm516]

Okay good! Gasps are much more appropriate. Yeah it was REALLY messed up. Hopefully was just my audience.

[KJisgroovy]

When I saw the show on Broadway there were a few gasps but quite a few laughs. Which bothered me at the time. 

There was a very successful production at the Court theater here in Chicago and there was a smattering of nervous laughter. 

[newintown]

Each time I saw the show (downtown and uptown), that moment got gasps. (It also lost me each time; I was never going to regain sympathy for a character who would say such a thing to a child, no matter how bratty.)

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

It's sort of crazy to me that that line would illicit laughter.

[Wick3]

 Just a few gasps here and there when I saw the show.

[uncageg]

Saw it 2 days before openin on Broadway. No laughs. I don't even remember gasps but you could feel the shock of what she said rifle through the theater. I vaguely recall a few sighs and quiet "ohs" tbough after she said it.

[luvcaroline]

Definitely no laughs when I saw it both times (broadway and LA)

[imeldasturn]

Hampstead has a very large Jewish community and many patrons that go to that theatre are indeed Jewish. I found myself grinning at that line, not because it's funny - it's actually quite horrifying - but because it's a very peremptory and self-assured theological opinion, especially coming from a woman who thinks the devil made the dryer. 

[Hest88]

When I saw it in San Francisco, it definitely did not come across as funny to the audience.