The "Handicapped" Kid in Hairspray

#1

The "Handicapped" Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 2:42pm

I know it might be funny to some people, but when I saw Hairspray I didn't find it funny. The boy who is aimlessly wondering in the background behind the fence.


Does anyone know what I'm talking about?


I found it offensive and uncomfortable.

#2

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:12pm

hm, i dont remember that...

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"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

#3

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:17pm

I don't recall...

#4

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:01pm

nor do I in the 3 times i've seen the show...

#5

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:08pm

I do not recall...

#6

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:09pm

It's been nearly 3 years since I saw the Toronto cast but from what I remember, the "handicapped" kid was in the detention scene where Tracey meets Seaweed. I think he had a joke at the end of the scene or something... God, it's been so long...

#7

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:12pm

there's a handicapped kid who stands behind the fence in th dodgeball scene.

#8

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:54pm

It's been nearly 3 years since I saw the Toronto cast but from what I remember, the "handicapped" kid was in the detention scene where Tracey meets Seaweed. I think he had a joke at the end of the scene or something

The kid who yells "Congress!", as the punchline to where do you go after special ed (or whatever the setup line is)- that kid?

#9

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:57pm

It may be the same kid, but this guy is doing a weird pose during the dodgeball scene, I think. I only remember seeing i on tour. It may be new.

#10

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:04pm

The character you're referring to is Stouie, and is played by the ensemble member normally playing Brad. He appears first in the detention scene sitting at the desk closest to stage right, and delivers the punchline after Tracy asks "Where can you go after special ed?" ("Congress!") He next appears in the dodgeball scene and stands behind the fence.

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"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball

#11

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:25pm

I saw it on tour also,
made me kinda uneasy.

#12

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:31pm

btw- the 'Congress' line was written by Bruce Vilanch.

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#13

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:35pm

Okay.. so.. what is the big deal? Are handicapped people not allowed to appear in musicals?

#14

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:36pm

I'm with JP2.

#15

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:39pm

ugh. get over it.
i think the rest of the show can make up for the fact you were uncomfortable for a split second.

#16

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:40pm

While I think it is funny I see their (the other posters) points.

Okay.. so.. what is the big deal? Are handicapped people not allowed to appear in musicals?

Well there is a difference between a handicapped person appearing in a show and a handicapped person being used as a joke in a show. In HAIRSPRAY it is being used as a joke.

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I shave me Xanadu every morning!

#17

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:43pm

All of you have to lighten up. Life isn't politically correct.

#18

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 5:53pm

i saw it on tour, also. he wasn't really portrayed as "handicapped"

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"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

#19

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 6:05pm

I thought it was funny but then I started feeling guilty because I'm sure there were people in the audience who, because of personal reasons, saw no humor in the "joke".



Whatever, a lot of you seem to think I should lighten up and that's your opinion. I was just seeing if there was anyone else out there who agreed, I wasn't accusing anyone of be "wrong" or "rude" or "mean", but I personally began to find it uncomfortable the more I thought about it.

#20

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 6:22pm

One time when I saw it he said "The White House!" instead of "Congress"

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"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

#21

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 6:34pm

Did it offend you that they played "Keep Away" with him as well?

That's what happened on school playgrounds. Relax.

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#22

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 8:59pm

i believe before that, the line used to be "what can you do after special ed?" to which he responded, "write musicals!"

#23

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 9:09pm

Exactly Jaded!

And during the rehearsals for the first tour, they stopped and said, "We need something funnier than that."

Bruce, without hesitation, yells out, "Congress!"

And so a new laugh was born.

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#24

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 9:12pm

Did Bruce help to write Hairspray?

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I shave me Xanadu every morning!

#25

re: The 'Handicapped' Kid in Hairspray

Posted: 6/3/07 at 9:12pm

I don't think so, it was already set and open by the time he joined the tour.