Anyone VERY familiar with Boeing-Boeing? Curious about what may have been a dropped line.

[Bzl1st]

Posted: 9/24/08 at 4:29pm

Okay, I'm really just curious, but this moment sticks out to me. If you're really familiar with this show, can you think of this moment and let me know if this was a dropped/improvised line? I only saw the show once a month ago, so forgive my cryptic description.

It's not long after Gabriella arrives and around the time Bertha is juggling coordinating dinner menus. It is immediately before her exit in which she comes back later to announce dinner is ready. She begins to address Robert and suddenly gets tongue-tied and exclaims "I have forgotten what I was going to say! All this running around!!!" and Robert says calmly "it'll come to you" and she exits. The next line (Gabriella's I believe) was slightly off in timing (the way it would be if other actors have to cover). The scene continued and then Bertha reenters on cue and says "I remember what I was going to say! Dinner is ready!" and the scene went on. It seemed like an odd momentary change of pacing and those three lines ("forgot what I was going to say," "all this running around," and "I remember...") seemed out of place with the rest of the script/lines.

If this was a dropped line, I'm wondering what the line was SUPPOSED to be. Also, I'm fascinated by stage performers and their ability to react under pressure while keeping a scene going, so I'm wondering if that is really what happened. Something did seem off about that moment. Can anyone help? Thanks!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/24/08 at 4:46pm

In the script, those are the lines as written. Nothing was dropped.

[Bzl1st]

Posted: 9/24/08 at 4:47pm

Thanks so much! It seemed kind of odd in the performance I saw; maybe they just had their timing off at that moment for some reason. I looked for a copy of the script but hadn't been able to find it.

Again, thanks!
Updated On: 9/24/08 at 04:47 PM

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/24/08 at 5:06pm

I have a good feeling if ever a line was dropped, Mark Rylance could cover and no one would ever know.