Roosevelt Petrucious Coleslaw (CAROLINE, OR CHANGE)

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 5:23pm

I'm currently making a CD of my all-time favorite Act I finales, I obviously included "Roosevelt Petrucious Coleslaw" from CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. Everyone talks about how "I Hate the Bus" earned Anika Noni Rose the Tony but when you listen to this number (as well as the delicious "No One Waiting" when she screams "I ain't got no tears to shed for no dead white man") you notice that she shines in other places apart from "I Hate the Bus." I also find Marcus Carl Franklin and Leon G. Thomas incredibly talented (not to mention really funny) as Joe and Jackie Thibodeaux.
This is definitely one of the most chills-inducing number in the show for me, but I can't say I fully understand it. What was the staging for this number like? What exactly is the meaning of the story Emmie tells her little brothers?
I know at that point Noah is leaving the quarters in his pockets so Caroline can take them home, and I know Emmie is warning Jackie and Joe against "children who snoop." The part I can't fully grasp is the whole story she creates, is it just a game between all of them? What's the deeper meaning of this number?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 5:34pm

It's a playful song -- hard to describe. If I had the time, I'd put the entire video of it (with the original Broadway cast) on YouTube.com.

It's Emmy playing around with her 2 kid brothers. On and around the front porch of their house. Noah symbolicly joins them later on in the number -- his wish to be one of them, etc.

It's more about the staging than anything. You have to see how it's done.

[joshy]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 8:24pm

This is such a fantastic number, I just loved watching it.
I'll try and find my CAROLINE, OR CHANGE "media" and describe the staging for you...