Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
#1Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 9:26am
I've known and loved the score to "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" since high school when it premiered, and I always thought "All About Ruprecht" was just a funny, bizarre song. It wasn't until this summer that I realized that the midsection is an allusion to Kay Thompson's "Eloise" novelty song (which is currently trending on TikTok).
What about you? What did you discover years later that made the lightbulb over your head go off retroactively?
Grief
Chorus Member Joined: 3/4/08
#2Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 10:09am
The Music Man: "I hope and I pray for Hester to win just one more A." Despite loving The Scarlet Letter in high school, I didn't understand what that lyric was referring to until I was an adult.
Also, The Wizard of Oz: "Oil can what?"
#3Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 11:43am
It took me years to realize that in "In the Heights," when Usnavi says, "Like my man Cole Porter says," he's talking about the "It's too darn hot" line, in reference to Kiss Me Kate. I always thought he was talking about the next line about people coming through for a few cold waters and a lottery ticket, which I assumed was some Cole Porter joke I wasn't getting.
Updated On: 9/18/22 at 11:43 AM
#4Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 12:20pm
I STILL don’t understand, “I think I missed. Don’t get pissed.”
CopleyScott17
Understudy Joined: 5/5/19
#5Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 2:53pm
In "All For the Best" from "Godspell," there's a lyric that says "You'd bet that Job had nothing on you." As a heathen kid, I just assumed it meant getting fired from a job for no good reason. I didn't learn about the biblical Job until years later. In retrospect, the "mispronunciation" should have been a clue 
#6Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 8:01pm
TotallyEffed said: "I STILL don’t understand, “I think I missed. Don’t get pissed.”"
I believe it's a "pegging with a strap-on but stuck it in the wrong hole" reference, a joke that feels somewhat crude and out of place where it is in the show.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#7Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 9:58pm
darquegk said: "TotallyEffed said: "I STILL don’t understand, “I think I missed. Don’t get pissed.”"
I believe it's a "pegging with a strap-on but stuck it in the wrong hole" reference, a joke that feels somewhat crude and out of place where it is in the show."
I mean, it's a whole song about sex. If there's any moment to put that lyric in the show, that's it.
#8Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 10:25pm
darquegk said: "TotallyEffed said: "I STILL don’t understand, “I think I missed. Don’t get pissed.”"
I believe it's a "pegging with a strap-on but stuck it in the wrong hole" reference, a joke that feels somewhat crude and out of place where it is in the show."
But surely Joanne would know she missed before Maureen herself did?
Luvinbroadway
Leading Actor Joined: 7/18/03
#9Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 10:44pm
I still don’t get the Oz oil can.
#10Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/18/22 at 11:15pm
Luvinbroadway said: "I still don’t get the Oz oil can.”
The Scarecrow doesn’t have a brain, so when he hears “oil can” he thinks it’s the beginning of a longer sentence. As in, “oil CAN do this, oil CAN’T do that.” So he asks, “oil can what?”
Nolan LuPone
Featured Actor Joined: 8/9/21
#11Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 7:51am
"It has to be grocer, it's green"
#12Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 9:09am
Nolan LuPone said: ""It has to be grocer, it's green""
Google ‘green grocer.’ :)
Chase Miller
Understudy Joined: 9/12/22
#13Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 9:47am
The majority of the lyrics in spring awakening.
Nolan LuPone
Featured Actor Joined: 8/9/21
#14Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 11:25am
TotallyEffed said: "Nolan LuPone said: ""It has to be grocer, it's green""
Google ‘green grocer.’ :)"
I did eventually... I just didn't care to think about it until a few months ago
#15Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 11:55am
TotallyEffed said: "Luvinbroadway said: "I still don’t get the Oz oil can.”
The Scarecrow doesn’t have a brain, so when he hears “oil can” he thinks it’s the beginning of a longer sentence. As in, “oil CAN do this, oil CAN’T do that.” So he asks, “oil can what?”"
I think you're really reaching for that one. The 'joke' is simply that the Tin Man is rusted solid, asks for the oil can, and the Scarecrow (being brainless) says, "Oil can what?" not understanding that oil would ease the rust.
#16Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 12:06pm
I don’t think he’s overthinking; it’s a pretty simple bit of wordplay that would sound at home with Ernie and Bert.
#17Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/19/22 at 3:15pm
IronMan said: "TotallyEffed said: "Luvinbroadway said: "I still don’t get the Oz oil can.”
The Scarecrow doesn’t have a brain, so when he hears “oil can” he thinks it’s the beginning of a longer sentence. As in, “oil CAN do this, oil CAN’T do that.” So he asks, “oil can what?”"
I think you're really reaching for that one. The 'joke' is simply that the Tin Man is rusted solid, asks for the oil can, and the Scarecrow (being brainless) says, "Oil can what?" not understanding that oil would ease the rust. "
The joke is “oil can (do) what?” and it has always been that play on words.
mememe
Understudy Joined: 10/14/07
#18Jokes, allusions or references that you didn't get until years later?
Posted: 9/20/22 at 10:54am
IronMan said: "TotallyEffed said: "Luvinbroadway said: "I still don’t get the Oz oil can.”
The Scarecrow doesn’t have a brain, so when he hears “oil can” he thinks it’s the beginning of a longer sentence. As in, “oil CAN do this, oil CAN’T do that.” So he asks, “oil can what?”"
I think you're really reaching for that one. The 'joke' is simply that the Tin Man is rusted solid, asks for the oil can, and the Scarecrow (being brainless) says, "Oil can what?" not understanding that oil would ease the rust. "
You’ve quite literally just said the same thing with different wording
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