Caroline Question for the in depth analysis experts

[ScarletFever]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 12:27am

Having seen COC twice (seeing it one more time Sunday), I found it to be an exceptional theater experience. The book is richer and deeper than anything else on Broadway this season imho and trully makes one think and ponder long after the show is over, especially while listening to the lyrics on the CD. Looking at the show analytically, I can see that virtually everything and every character are symbolic and representative of something. Nothing in the show is there extraneously, everything has a significant meaning. What I don't get, however, is what the last scene in the first act all means. I don't really understand the Roosevelt Petrucious Coleslaw sing/song - or is that just meant to be a kid's skip rope sing/song.. and I especially do not understand the part where the kids say: and he said to the moon, will you be my missus? And then the moon says: ooh, I might, you're sweet, but you gotta be rich. Kids: I'm rich, I'm rich (while holding up their quarters) will you give me kisses. Moon: I will sweet pea, indeed I shall, I'll be your lover, your little loonie gal. Cuz you are sweet and you are rich, kids: so they went up to God and they got hitched. Moon: and I will wax and wane I'll turn your brain into green blue cheese, i'll do every last thing that I please, I'll be your honey and I'll spend all your money.. and I'll fly so high...
This is all from memory so forgive any incorrect lyrics.. but anyway, what does this all mean and what is its significance and what does it represent?

Thank you to anyone who can answer!

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/21/04 at 3:04am

Scarlet....you really got me to thinking about it. I went back and read the lyrics aftr reading your post. Hmmmm.....could really be reaching on this but for some reason I got the feeling of semi-abuse by the mother or it being accidental. It is evident that they were poor. I get the feeling he didn't go to Heaven or Hell but ended up flying among the stars. Maybe something he always dreamed of as a poor child. And it seems I remember as a child a story about marrying the moon. And now it will drive me crazy trying to figure out what is is!!! So those are my thoughts...I bet I will now come up with another angle!!! That's my ramble for the day!

[broadway1564]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 1:53pm

That song is a very interesting part of the show. I think it was, in part, added to the show to illustrate how young people think about and view the value of money. It's how a youngster would spend their money and how cosmic the thought of having money really is to their very existance.

You know how kids were always told that there was a man/woman in the woman. It's how the imagination works in a young person and how the galaxy is the ultimate place to travel and live out your dreams. I think, as an adult, we often have situations where we realize that there is something far greater than us at work, making something a reality for us.

It's a song of determination and imagination.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 2:16pm

the most important part is when the moon says: "ooh, I might, you're sweet, but you gotta be rich.", it all goes back to the value of money- caroline is having an inner struggle over whether to take the change or not, and with "rosevelt..." the audience is presented with another reason that she feels she must take the change; because, as broadway1564 said, money is a huge thing to kids, especially to her's because they've never had any.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 8/22/04 at 5:37pm

I think its also trying to say that money is not the key to happiness. The Moon says "I will sweet pea...cause you are sweet, and you are rich", when asked by the boys if they will receive kisses. The Moon then says, "And I will wax and I will wane, I'll turn your brain into green moon cheese". "I'll be your honey, and I'll spend all your money"