The Officially Official Manoel Felciano Love Thread- Page 186

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:35pm

That's so cute! I thought that he wasn't fluent in Spanish...

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:38pm

Not enough to follow a conversation (or maybe he was thrown by our Puerto Rican accent), but he DOES know Spanish.

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:41pm

I want to hear him speak something foreign. What did he say in your message?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:43pm

I suck at Spanish. Like, I understand fairly well, and can read and write, but when I speak it, my accent is just... well, crappy.

So I was thinking, while I spaced out in class. The lyrics referring to Pirelli haven't been changed, and he's still referred to as "he," so I'm thinking that it's just that Donna Lynne is playing a guy, with all of the implications of gender tension that comes with that. BUT if there's something inherently sexual in the way Pirelli and Sweeney interact -- this might do nothing but show what a dirty mind I have? -- are we to assume something of homoeroticism, maybe? Pirelli seems like he's "supposed" to be a guy.

Sorry if that's totally out there. I... was bored.

Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:43 PM

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:55pm

He just addressed something I'd written in Spanish. It was really cute.

Ok, I've talked about this whole Pirelli issue a lot. Think of it as "male" has replaced "Italian". In the original version, Pirelli was Italian, and only revealed himself to be Irish to Sweeney Todd. Even after he dies, Mrs Lovett STILL refers to him as "the Italian".

So, my thinking is that Pirelli is a "man" to the world, yet when he unmasks, and reveals himself to Sweeney Todd, he shows his more feminine side. That doesn't necessarily mean it IS a woman dressed as a man - it's just ambiguous. So, any sexual connotation in that scene (which I maintain is THERE) is enhanced when Pirelli speaks in a more feminine voice. There are some homosexual undertones, for sure. And I truly do believe there MUST be a specific reason why the line was changed to "I was just a down and out you hired". (they could've EASILY added "lad", yet chose not to.) I agree with you. Pirelli IS male, but they're purposely playing with notions of gender identity, since he's being played by a woman. And in doing so, there's a strong whiff of homoeroticism.

I think that ambiguity there to enhance the idea of gender power struggles - "Pirelli", this ambiguous figure, used to work for Todd. Had, perhaps, some sort of sexual relationship with him. And at some point, was cast away. So when Pirelli asks for half of his profits, it's more about VENGEANCE than pure malice and greed. It establishes Todd as a victimizer, not just a victim.

[msally]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:56pm

does anyone know how old Manoel Felciano is?

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:58pm

He's in his 30's

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:58pm

Ok, good. So my mind isn't playing homo-erotic-loving tricks on me.

I'm fascinated by gender-bending in the theatre; hence part of my love for what Cabaret does with the Emcee. Because it's not just for gruesome sexual explication, I think.

msally, early-thirties-ish.

[msally]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:00pm

single?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:01pm

This just got weird.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:02pm

Oh, I agree! I LOVE gender bending!! It's one of the reasons I'm REALLY looking forward to the current production of The Threepenny Opera.

And the Emcee in Cabaret is possibly one of the greatest characters EVER to grace the Broadway stage.

et: yeah...weird... Updated On: 3/28/06 at 03:02 PM

[msally]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:03pm

single? gay?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:03pm

haha. I never put it so bluntly because I don't want to look like some hormonal bundle of perversion.

I'm registered for HipTix, but I always forget to USE IT. I need to see Threepenny.

I saw a really crappy Emcee my first time, and was still so taken with the role. Clearly.

ETA -- wow, persistence!

Updated On: 3/28/06 at 03:03 PM

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:04pm

Contrary to popular belief, we don't make it a habit to discuss actors' personal lives.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:05pm

I've been so wrong all along!

[msally]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:05pm

single? gay?

mid 30's

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:05pm

ha!

Well...I don't.

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:06pm

I also love gender bending roles. There's always more to think about.

msally...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:07pm

Ok. Let's make this quick.

Msally, your profile indicates that you are male.

Therefore, your trials and tribulations be worth little with Manoel.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:10pm

*giggle*

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:11pm

Hush, I was getting impatient.

So if Cabaret were still running, I would have to petition Mano for the Emcee.

.... not to like, compare.

Mano, don't hate me!

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:12pm

*giggles*

He can't hate you!

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:13pm

hehehehehehe

Mano WAS in Cabaret, though. I wonder what his costume was.

He'd be a good emcee. Well, he'd be a good ANYTHING, really.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:14pm

I know, and because of it he knows like half of the Company cast. Which is cool. Because they're cool.

Sorry. I'm suddenly kind of weirdly hyper?

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:16pm

I'd really like to see him play the Emcee.

I felt like everyone in Company had been in Cabaret.