The Exorcist on stage!- Page 2

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 1:53pm

Not only is the devil an actual character but I bet he wears a turtleneck.

If you've read the original novel, Regan isn't possessed by the devil but by a demon named Pazuzu.

The demon (and not the devil) is implied in the film, though they never use the name Pazuzu.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 2:07pm

"Maybe Doyle should contact Landry."

I think Ryan is brilliant!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 2:08pm

What a fun name, Pazuzu.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 2:10pm

It's Captain Howdy!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 3:05pm

I agree, TDiva. Right now he's doing "Peter Pansy."

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 3:35pm

Yes, Brody (aka "Caption Obvious"---NOT IN THE BOOK OR MOVIE, BECAUSE IT'S CAPTAIN HOWDY, BEFORE YOU CORRECT US). It's probably safe to say we all know about Pazuzu. Sheesh.

Moving on ...

You people made me dig through my drawers! *waits*

I found the Mad Magazine. And it's "The Ecchorcist." (spelled exactly so) Reg wins!

Characters are: Father Merry, Crass McSqueal, Ravin McSqueal, Saran (the governess), Kraut (ze German houseman), Burpp (the movie director), Father Tsouris, and Lt. Kindergarten.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 3:39pm

I'm so jealous you have your old Mad Magazines, besty!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 3:51pm

It's probably safe to say we all know about Pazuzu.

With all due respect, about 98.1% of the world population has NO idea about Pazuzu, aside from obvious fans of the film and the novel (like myself). People generally just say THE EXORCIST is about a girl possessed by the devil, etc.

Even today, articles and essays about THE EXORCIST state that Regan is possessed by the devil -- never once even mentioning Pazuzu or that he is just a demon and not the devil himself.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 3:53pm

It's not the old one, doodle (although I have that somewhere). This is a compilation softcover book that came out in the '90s called "Mad About the '70s. It has many of the classic parodies in it:

The Ecchorcist
Sleazy Riders
Lover's Story
Reality Street (aka Sesame Street)
Gall in the Family Fare
The Oddfather
The Mary Tailor-Made Show
M*A*S*H*UGA
American Confetti
Jaw'd
Crappy Days
One Cuckoo Flew Over the Rest
Gall of the President's Men
Welcome Back, Klodder
Churlie's Angels
Rockhead
Star Roars
Saturday Night Feeble
Superduperman
Shmork & Windy

Amazon Link

Updated On: 5/12/11 at 03:53 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 3:59pm

I had a flexi-disc from Mad (I think) that featured an All in the Family parody. I just remember Hitler moved in next door and Archie referred to him as "Dolph, baby!"

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:04pm

Yep, "Dolf, Baby" is in there.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:08pm

Back to that Pielmeier link ... whoa.

I don't know what he's thinking to get into a lengthy discussion like that with those two characters. Interesting, yes. But what does it have to do with the story? Focus, man.

EDIT: Oh, wait he says this on his site:

I went anyway, presented my case to Bill Blatty (a wonderful, warm, brilliant man) and was fortunate enough to gain his blessings. I made my own deal for the rights, mapped out an outline of sorts and in November ran away to Provincetown, Massachusetts where I pounded out a first draft in ten days.

Ten days, huh? That explains it.

Updated On: 5/12/11 at 04:08 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:14pm

I think it's a little swingy don't you? In the span of a couple minutes Damien recounts the mythology of Jesus as if it's fact and then declares himself an unbeliever. And then says the devil's story might make him a believer. It's dumb.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:19pm

And then says the devil's story might make him a believer.

There's my point, best12bars.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:20pm

It's a whole page of dumb.

We already know (or should know very early on) that Damien Karras is doubting his faith. He's in a downward spiral after his mother dies. We don't need to listen to him oscillate so tediously (and verbosely) at this point in the story. It doesn't add anything to what should have come before.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:28pm

I would actually take "the devil" to mean the particular devil being discussed, since it's not capitalized. I'd expect a capital "d" to indicate that Satan was meant.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:32pm

Devil with a capital D, and that rhymes with T, and that stands for tedious.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:33pm

Possibly I rely too much on careful copyediting . . .

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:33pm

"I'm da DEVIL!!"

"It's like saying your Napoleon Bonaparte."

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:35pm

Yes, that's in the movie, when Karras doubts that Regan is really possessed, because she claims she is "the Devil himself, not a demon, which is the same thing as claiming you're Napoleon Bonaparte."

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:38pm

If he was smart, the playwright would stay out of that bedroom and make it the story of Chris MacNeill. The things that mother sees, the facts she confronts and the secrets that she keeps for and about her daughter are infinitely more harrowing and compelling than pages of losing-my-religion gook.

If DEMON and REGAN are played by the same actress, the dialogue that's already been posted would probably lose some of its hammy-ness.

Regardless, I'll hold out for a musical version of Exorcist II (replete with the original 42nd Street tap number, please).

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 4:40pm

... with everyone wearing Pazoot Suits!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 5:01pm

and Stritch as the voice of the demon.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/11 at 5:13pm

^ Love it.

[Sirius Black]

Posted: 5/13/11 at 5:09pm

I saw The Exorcist onstage at Joe's Pub but it was called Jackie FIVE-OH!