What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Bal
Leading Actor Joined: 10/19/04
#1What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:08pm
In Green Grow the Lilacs, she's just 'Annie', with no Ado at all, I believe.
My musical theatre teachers gave me two theories, but both were guesses:
1) Ado being a mispronounced form of 'ado' as in 'Much Ado About Nothing'...meaning trouble follows her, I guess.
2) 'I do' becomes 'Ah do' (in dialect) becomes 'Ado'. (She's a yes girl, if you will).
Neither of my teachers had thought about it until I asked them! It was important to me, because... well, guess who I was playing.
Anyways, I think it would be a very interesting bit of trivia, if anyone happens to know it.
EDIT: Oops, I *had* meant to put this on the on-topic board, sorry...
"Well, obviously Company is about the Kennedy family. Bobby is played by Raul, and JFK is played by Harvey Fierstein."
-vfd88
Updated On: 6/18/07 at 11:08 PM
#2re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:12pmI've always thought it was the first one, but the second one is an interesting and valid concept as well! I hope someone on here knows the actual story behind that.
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#2re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:32pm
That's actually a really great question.
I haven't the slightest idea.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
americanboy99
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/06
#3re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:36pm
It is a good question. I am trying to think of something clever that might make sense but I just can't. I would say the first theory is the most likely. However, the second theory does fit the show a little more and is fitting to the character.
So, I don't know. Maybe someone does.
Again, fabulous question.
#4re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:36pmWow - I was thinking about the name this afternoon.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#5re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:38pm
I'd go with the second one.
She is, after all, a girl who cain't say no.
#6re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:41pmTrue, but I'm interested in the dramaturgy behind it. If they were intending the second, they still tied it in to the Shakespeare reference when they didn't necessarily have to. What's behind specifically making her "Ado" Annie?
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#7re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:02am
Focus people!
We nedd FACTS! Not just, "Oh I like the way that sounds".
If we were going to do that, then I'd say, "Ado was the nickname for her hoo-ha, like Rosebud".
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#8re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:19am
Ok..this is the type of question that makes me google until I find something....LOL
I did find instances of Ado being a name...including a St. Ado, who was a monk...which is actually pretty ironic considering Ado Annie's defining characteristic!
Bal
Leading Actor Joined: 10/19/04
#9re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:19am
I lol'd...
But yes, the dramaturgy behind it is what really interests me. But I think it's really neat that people just sort of accept it as her name without thinking about it...
"Well, obviously Company is about the Kennedy family. Bobby is played by Raul, and JFK is played by Harvey Fierstein."
-vfd88
Chloe
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/28/04
#10re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/19/07 at 1:09am
I've managed to find some history from an Oklahoma county historical society newsletter. According to it, the name came from the original playwright, Lynn Riggs.
Riggs was a literary genius at recording the expressions of plain Oklahoma people. Many of the characters in the play were family members and acquaintances from the area. Jud Fry was a man named Jeeter Davis who pulled a knife on a family member. Jeeter' name was changed to Jud in the play. A neighbor of the Riggs became "Old Man Peck." Two daughters of Mary Brice were also represented: Laura became "Laurey" and Willie became "Ado Annie," however the name "Ado" was derived from Lynn's half-aunt Hannah Ada Riggs.
Newsletter
#11re: What does the 'Ado' in 'Ado Annie' mean?
Posted: 6/19/07 at 2:26amWell, that pretty much answers the question.
Videos