OK--does it make anyone else mad...(possible Hairspray spoiler)

[Parks]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:49pm

that the Edna and Wilbur break character in You're Timeless To Me every time?

It was cute when I saw it, because I didn't know it was planned--but honestly, after the actors have played the part so many times, it can't be THAT funny.

Anyone else frustrated by this? Don't get me wrong--I absolultely LOVE Hairspray--it's an incredibly fun show (one of my favorites) but this is probably the one thing I cannot stand about the show.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:54pm

Yes I have also noticed that.

[Parks]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:56pm

It's just--now every review I've read--the person reviewing the show mentions how during the song, Edna and Wilbur always laugh--and they have to try SO hard to try to get the song going again--but oh! They've started laughing again. 3 times! It took them 17 minutes and 34 seconds to get back to being professional.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 12:30am

A very old theatre gimmick: to pretend something went wrong or the actors couldn't control themselves so they need to break in laughter, in pretend embarrasment, "making" the audience believe it wasn't staged.

It wouldn't be so annoying if done well, but after a while it usually does.

Maria Friedman and Michael Ball loved doing this, but it looked soooo set up it wasn't funny.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:12am

Yeah, I kind of urked me, and then someine in another thread said that the guy playing Wilbur realy did laugh every night, but it's very planned. If every single company does it, how can it be considered spontaneous?

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:15am

I find it completey manipulative and insulting. Particularly in a 4th wall show... screams of comedic desperation. Never cared for it on the Carol Burnett show(albeit a Variety show and not a play)and certainly don't like it in a Broadway Show.
Updated On: 8/3/06 at 01:15 AM

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:15am

sorry ,double post

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 01:15 AM

[OnMyWay]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:15am

That gets the biggest laugh of the whole show, so obviously they are doing something right. I think it's just smart writing. Maybe not original, but smart.

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:20am

i'm prety sure they're directed to do it each show. it does get the biggest laugh of the show. and especially if an audience is 'dead' that night, it grabs their attention and wakes them up real fast.

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 01:20 AM

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:22am

If it gets the biggest laugh of the show that is a very sad comment on the writing of the show. Tricking the audience to feel "in on the joke" as the actors "break character" is cheap and artistically/comedically pathetic. I love Hairspray, but that moment in the show is horrible. If it were character driven and seemed remotely organic than fine, it's not and it isn't...gross.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:33am

i think its very character driven and organic, i mean the two characters are talking about why they love each other and why they love life... is it abnormal for lovers to make each other giggle? i think its a lovely moment, and it hasnt always been done this way, each edna/wilbur pair have handled that segment a little differently. hell, i used to hate that song, now its one of my favorites. i certainly find it more appropriate than the irrelevant modern pop culture references that were put there by previous Ednas.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:44am

From Harvey/Dick and on....that moment has been the actors "breaking" ...If it were the characters sharing a giggle over why and how they've loved each other through the years it would be extremely sweet,but that isn't how its presented. Its presented as the actors commenting on the situation,and "breaking" from the reality of the show to ellicit a reaction from the audience.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 2:13am

im commenting on how that scene is done now. yeah sometimes its hammed up for the extra laughs, but the giggles usually start with something very simple and sweet like Wilbur making eyes at Edna. The character break totally annoyed me with comments like "wilbur, im a desperate house wife" but this... i love it. i think it fits wonderfully.
Updated On: 8/3/06 at 02:13 AM

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 7:14am

I only saw the show once, but when they broke character, It didn't seem that real. I guess now it's because it's staged.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 7:23am

BELIEVE ME . . . most of the audience thinks they are experiencing a "special" goof that no one else gets to see. It IS used a lot and if you aren't in the know, it comes off as very entertaining and spontaneous. For example, a friend of mine saw "Will Rogers Follies" on Broadway and insisted at the end of the dog act that one of the dogs got away from the trainers backstage, came onstage and broke up the actors trying to continue the scene and then ran down the aisle. I tried to tell her that it's part of the show (happened every night), but she claimed that the actors laughed several times during the scene and had difficulty continuing. Once again, I told her that the SAME thing happened when I had seen it 9 months prior to her visit. It's a comic technique that's used to make the audience feel they've experienced a "once-in-a-lifetime" moment.

Updated On: 8/3/06 at 07:23 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 8:09am

I never remembered seeing this on Broadway until I saw the touring company 3x last summer. The first time was funny, now when I see it, I more or less think, "here it comes."

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 8:32am

On the tour, it's staged. On Broadway, it actually is improvised. There was a thread about this last week.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 9:59am

I saw it in NY last week and was completely taken in by it. They got me, it seemed very real. When I saw the tour a year ago in Detroit they didn't do it and the song seemed so boring. When they did the encore of the number I remember thinking, what did they do to deserve this. So, I guess since most of the audience isn't going to see it multiple times, it is a great gag to make you feel special.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:19am

I can't comment on any other pair, but John Pinette and Stephen DeRosa handled this perfectly. I knew it was coming each time, but it still got me and made me laugh. They just had an adorable chemistry, and made it work.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:19am

Wait hold on, back up. Did someone just call HAIRSPRAY a "4th Wall show"? HAHA That is the most asinine comment I have read today. There is absolutely NOTHING 4th wall about Hairspray. The entire show is played to the audience. It's wonderfully appropriate to the number if and when they break. They do the show in front of a freaking show curtain for godsake. The entire number screams "Hey you're watching a send up of an old vaudaville scene change number".

[morosco]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:40am

"A very old theatre gimmick: to pretend something went wrong or the actors couldn't control themselves so they need to break in laughter, in pretend embarrasment, "making" the audience believe it wasn't staged."

And audiences eat it up!

[Parks]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:44am

On Broadway it's improvised? So...they don't mean to do it every night? It just happens...?

[morosco]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:01am

"On Broadway it's improvised? So...they don't mean to do it every night? It just happens...?"

I think the original poster was saying that the "break-up" is planned but what the actors say when they break-up is improvised.

[AshleyBrownFan123]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:02am

I noticed too....

I don't like that number anyways.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:02am

Can someone elaborate on the Maria Friedman / Michael Ball situation?