Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
#1Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:11pm
Hi BroadwayWorld,
I am working on a paper on how the portrayal of psychological topics is addressed in the mainstream musical. And one thing I seem to notice is that there seems to be a large gender divide in regards to the topic of suicide:
What I can think of off the top of my head is;
Male - Spring Awakening
Male - Les Miserables
Male - Jekyll and Hyde
Female: Next to Normal
If we go into plays - yes things get very different with Night Mother etc. which I discuss in a separate section or the paper actually marking the wins of 'Night Mother as proof of more open minded audIences and the option for producers to make money on more psychological shows on Broadway,
But is this the case? Can anyone think of any other female or male examples. Ideally Broadway shows a little more in the mainstream consciousness...:but it is a matter of psychology, gender and public impression on Broadway. I'd love any other examples if you have it.
Second question: The Great Comet - off stage suicide? Or death by broken heart? I did not read the booo - what do you think was implied?
When someone blunders, we say that he makes a misstep. Is it then not clear that all the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill our history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill in dancing. - Moliere
#2Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:16pm
I don't know if you'd consider this mainstream but there is a female suicide in Muriel's Wedding: The Musical.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#3Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:20pm
The obvious one that comes to mind would be, of course, Dear Evan Hansen - one young man who is implied to have attempted suicide, and another who actually does it. She Loves Me also features a suicide attempt by a male character, unusual for a comedy. Heathers has suicide as a running theme, and one of the female characters considers committing the act.
As far as Great Comet, I'm not quite sure which character you're referring to. I assume, however,
Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content
you're referring to Natasha. She takes poison out of despair for believing both her loves are lost to her and that she has no future (and perhaps yearning for sympathy after all the fury directed her way after the Anatole affair), but immediately goes for help and survives.
I hope this is helpful!
#4Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:26pm
Perhaps you'd be interested in looking at War and Peace versus The Great Comet with its portrayal of mental wellness in the character of Pierre.
In the musical, Pierre is described as a lonely, drunken old (or older) man with depressive tendencies. The novel's portrayal is more complex: Pierre has drunken himself into a lethargy and morbid obesity that have aged him beyond his fairly young years (he's a contemporary of Prince Andre and Anatole). In addition, though it's tricky to "diagnose" fictional characters, he appears to suffer from what we today would call likely paranoid schizophrenia. He is prone to delusions, paranoia and radicalism, buying into conspiracy theories, secret societies and fringe religions constantly.
The final moment of the book proper, the "first epilogue," sets up the opening of a sequel that Tolstoy never got around to writing. Pierre, who had previously believed he had been destined by God to kill the Antichrist by assassinating Napoleon, winds up sucked into extremism again when he becomes fascinated with the Decemberist Revolutionaries.
ermengarde
Chorus Member Joined: 1/17/18
#5Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:28pm
There's at least two suicidal characters in A Little Night Music, one male and one female. One actually gets close to attempting.
In the new tour of Phantom Christine seems to consider suicide on the rooftop. This was also done by a few actresses in London (Katie Knight Adams seemed to originate this). This is not in the text. This also happens with Christine and the Phantom in the Romanian production (soon to be replicated in Norway).
#6Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:31pm
Don't want to spoil anyone who has not seen this show but it's sorta the climax
Also, Sally in Follies talks about attempted suicide
Updated On: 1/23/18 at 12:31 PM
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 12:54pmFran in PROMISES, PROMISES
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 1:07pm
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Updated On: 1/23/18 at 01:07 PM
raddersons
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#9Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 1:34pm
The recent NT revival of Follies (as well as the original book) have multiple references of Sally saying she'll kill herself if she doesn't end up with Ben. Says a lot about how manipulation can lead to the depression.
#10Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 1:47pm
Groundhog Day.
#12Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 2:12pm
Ibsen:
Ghosts
Hedda Gabler
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#13Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 2:16pm
Norma uses a suicide attempt to manipulate Joe at the end of Act 1 of Sunset Boulevard. I don't remember for sure about the musical, but in the movie it's made clear that she has attempted it before (either Max or Joe, it's been a while since I've watched it, comment about the lack of locks on the doors in the mansion).
whatdoesntkillme
Featured Actor Joined: 8/15/16
#14Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 3:35pm
The finale of Pippin also involves the troupe attempting to convince Pippin to commit suicide, but ultimately he decides against it.
In West Side Story Maria mentions shooting herself at the end but ultimately doesn't.
In Fun Home it's largely believed/implied that Bruce steps in front of a truck intentionally.
In Oklahoma! Jud accidentally kills himself.
#15Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 4:17pm
raddersons said: "The recent NT revival of Follies (as well as the original book) have multiple references of Sally saying she'll kill herself if she doesn't end up with Ben. Says a lot about how manipulation can lead to the depression."
There's also lines suggesting (rather, just saying) that she had attempted suicide before. "I should have been dead all this time, I should have died the first time" something along the lines of that. Sally is probably one of the saddest characters I've seen because of how little people around her seem to understand her.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#16Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 4:26pmKim in Miss Saigon
#17Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 9:48pm
I'm surprised nobody has
mentioned Billy Bigelow
in CAROUSEL. (It's only
in the film where he falls
on his knife by accident.)
In classical works, there
are any number of famous
female suicides: Antigone,
Butterfly, Tosca, Juliet,
Ophelia (depending on
your interpretation), and
Lady MacBeth, et al.
#18Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 9:52pmFun Home “portrays” the suicide of Bruce
My father (AIDS)
My sister (AIDS)
My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS)
The gays and the straights
And the white and the spades
#19Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 10:26pmMe after sitting through a production of The Sound of Music.
#20Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/23/18 at 10:41pm
What female character in
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
toys with suicide? Henrik
is planning his suicide
when Anne intervenes.
Fredik and Magnus play
Russian Roulette (I'm
not sure this counts, but
whatever).
But a female?
#21Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/24/18 at 12:40amYes! I can't believe I forgot that one!
When someone blunders, we say that he makes a misstep. Is it then not clear that all the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill our history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill in dancing. - Moliere
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#22Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/24/18 at 12:50am
Javert in Les Miserables (Never mind - I see the reference to "male" in Les Miserables)
brox22
Chorus Member Joined: 9/15/14
#23Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/24/18 at 1:49am
Johanna in Sweeney Todd sings killing herself; twice.
a line about swallowing poison on Sunday
and then getting some lye.
Mr. Lovett does reveal to Sweeney that his wife Lucy did take poison but survived.
In COMPANY,
Amy mentioned that fiancee cufflinks are on the dresser next to her suicide note.
In anther line: Amy references her body floating in the river with the other garbage.
In Into the Woods, Cinderell throws herself into the Giant and dies and depending on direction the Witch's death in Last Midnight could be considered a form of suicide.
Sondheim in Pacific Overtures also has a suicide in the song, There Is No Other Way on stage.
Doesn't PASSION have a reference of Fosca wanting to die too?
#24Psychology/Suicide Portrayed on Broadway/Mainstream Musicals
Posted: 1/24/18 at 5:57am
This might not be a unanimous opinion, but i believe that someone who agrees to a duel where they are consenting to having someone shoot a gun at them is basically committing and/or attempting suicide (or at least consenting to it). So i would say both Alexander and Philip Hamilton fit this category.
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