Prom the musical

We delve into the heartwarming chaos of organising a school formal 20 years ago, sharing amusing quirks and unforgettable memories that set the stage for our deep dive into the musical "The Prom." From the brilliant minds of composer Matthew Sklar and lyricist Chad Beguelin, we explore how this musical masterpiece addresses themes of acceptance and stereotypes, resonating powerfully with audiences across the spectrum. Alongside reflections on Sklar's earlier works like "Elf" and "The Wedding Singer," we uncover the cultural impact of "The Prom" and how its lyrics speak volumes, especially in more conservative settings.

As we wrap up, prepare to be inspired by the clever references in musical theatre, spotlighting iconic figures like Bob Fosse and the vibrant character dynamics that breathe life into shows like "The Prom." With personal anecdotes and cherished memories, we journey through the joy and creativity that define the theatrical experience. Don't miss the excitement of production week and the thrill of welcoming a special guest to our podcast next week—it's bound to be an unforgettable celebration of theatre and its enduring magic!

End of MLL

Chapters

• 0:00 Musical Theatre News and Reflections
• 9:44 Prom Musical Theatre Podcast Recap
• 25:29 Musical Theatre and American Culture
• 36:28 Musical Theatre References and Inspiration
• 42:13 Musical Theatre Characters and Casting
• 55:28 Casting Prom Musical Theatre Roles
• 1:02:21 Production Week Excitement and Special Guest

Transcript

Musical Theatre News and Reflections

Speaker 1 0:25

Hello and welcome to Musical Lyrical Lingo. We're your hosts.

Speaker 2 0:29

Tim and LJ. Today and every week we will be discussing musicals, but specifically what they taught us.

Speaker 1 0:37

We've had a wee bit of a scare, haven't we? But it's okay, we're good.

Speaker 2 0:41

It's fine, it's just theatre.

Speaker 1 0:45

Theatre, Theatre at its best when things don't work. Here we are another week.

Speaker 2 0:53

Another week.

Speaker 1 0:54

I need this this week. I need a bit of therapy. To be honest, it's been a tough week. Tough week First week back to school. Very busy boy With rehearsals cranking up. Yeah, it's been a busy one. What about you?

Speaker 2 1:07

Yeah, it's busy. It's just hard, whenever you've had some time off, to go back in it's rubbish isn't it.

Speaker 1 1:12

I just don't want to have to work. I'm too young for retirement.

Speaker 2 1:19

Yeah.

Speaker 1 1:20

Even though I feel ancient and decrepit, I'm actually not.

Speaker 2 1:24

It would just be nice if somebody wants to pay and sponsor us to do a podcast.

Speaker 1 1:31

Is that my plan B? That would be great, wouldn't it, if that would work out. That would be wonderful. Just go and see theatre and yeah, talking about theatre, some theatre news, theatre news the winners of the 25th annual what's On Stage Awards have now been crowned as the curtain falls on their anniversary ceremony, which they held in the London P, on their anniversary ceremony, which they held in the London Palladium. Now, why can't that be televised?

Speaker 1 1:55

I don't understand A proper glittering affair with live performances and all the rest of it. If they can like um televise the Olivier's, why can't they televise the what's On Stage Awards? Don't know, it's very annoying. Anyway, andrew Lloyd Webber comes out trumps once again. Ooh.

Speaker 2 2:13

Yeah.

Speaker 1 2:14

His acclaimed revival of Starlight Express, which opened in the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre last summer, scooped an impressive seven awards, what I know Becoming the big winner of the night. Coincidentally, it equaled the tally of another of Andrew Lloyd Webber's revivals, Sunset Boulevard, who also took home seven trophies at last year's ceremony.

Speaker 2 2:40

Oh he's having a revival.

Speaker 1 2:41

Absolute heyday eh. Alongside Best Musical Revival, starlight also triumphed in the categories of Best Professional Debut for Jevan Braic. I think he plays Rusty in the new revival.

Speaker 1 3:01

I'm so sorry if I've announced that name wrong. Best Set Design which kind of makes sense. Best Costume Design, best Lighting Design, best Video Design. And finally, the newly introduced category of which kind of makes sense Best costume design, best lighting design, best video design. And finally, the newly introduced category of best wigs, hair and makeup design. There you go. Who knew you needed a hair, makeup and wigs category? Imelda Staunton, my mate added another what's On Stage award to her mantelpiece by taking home Best Performer in a Musical for Hello Dolly, following her wins for Sweeney Todd in 2013 and Gypsy in 2016,. The woman can do no wrong.

Speaker 2 3:44

No, she can't.

Speaker 1 3:45

And then last year's co-host, malnie Labarre, took home Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for Hadestown, which also won Best Musical Direction and Supervision. So there you go. Wow, that's what's on stage. There was also the coveted Best New Musical and Best New yeah, best New Musical went to Mean Girls.

Speaker 2 4:10

Oh yes, I've seen that. So well done, Zoe, Well done.

Speaker 1 4:13

While Oliver, which just sounds amazing at the moment in the West and it's been extended. Yeah, it just seems to be class. It's currently in the West End's Gielgud Theatre, but it took home the Best National Production thanks to its Chichester Festival Theatre run. So there you go, yeah.

Speaker 2 4:35

And you mentioned Hadestown there. And just a little shout out to our friend who this is. What this podcast is all about is that we are hopefully introducing you to new musicals and also like you're getting to experience and learn and all of that stuff. So one of our friends, richard um, had never experienced hades tarn until listening to the podcast and they decided, oh, I'm gonna go and listen to it.

Speaker 2 5:03

And then he got to go and see, like rachel tucker in it a couple of weeks ago and then the original cast, and he's just said it's so funny that if he hadn't listened to the podcast he wouldn't have, isn't that? Lovely, so isn't that nice that our podcast is definitely introducing new people to musicals.

Speaker 1 5:20

Yeah, that's so lovely. That's brilliant. I do love Hades Town. I have to say I would love to see it again. Something Rodden in concert also walked away with the what's on stage for best concert event.

Speaker 2 5:33

Hopefully that means that they'll do a production soon please.

Speaker 1 5:38

And then I got all excited talking about concert version, because they announced the musical adaptation of disney's the hunchback of notre dame will be having its professional UK premiere. I went crazy because I thought it was fully fledged production and then read was a concert performance this summer and I went well, it's better than nothing. It's better than nothing. And as you said about Something Rotten, hopefully this will mean a wee possible fully staged production of Hunchback at some point, because they did two nights, didn't they whenever we were over.

Speaker 2 6:19

we just didn't get a chance to see it.

Speaker 1 6:21

It was exactly when we were there. That's it.

Speaker 2 6:23

But it was sold out. I think it sold out quite quickly.

Speaker 1 6:27

It did.

Speaker 2 6:28

You know there's definitely a demand for it. That's quickly. Yeah, it did. You know there's definitely a demand for it.

Speaker 1 6:31

Yeah, that's it. So director Jonathan Boyle will bring the musical stage concert of it to the Prince Edward Theatre on Sunday, the 17th of August, at 3pm and then half seven.

Speaker 2 6:47

Oh, very good.

Speaker 1 6:48

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 6:50

Last week you had some really exciting theatre news, or sorry, you mentioned about the Hollywood Bowl doing Jesus Christ.

Speaker 1 6:58

Yeah, and literally I only read what you're about to say, as I was coming in here tonight.

Speaker 2 7:05

Did you?

Speaker 1 7:06

Yeah. That was at eight o'clock yesterday, oh fair enough, yeah, so what are you talking about?

Speaker 2 7:10

Well, who's playing Jesus?

Speaker 1 7:12

Cynthia Erivo.

Speaker 2 7:13

Amazing.

Speaker 1 7:14

But like, what? Like I don't get it. I'm a bit ooh, bit class. I mean she'll be amazing, but I'm just going. I don't quite understand. Are they changing the story?

Speaker 2 7:28

Yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 1 7:29

Who knows? Listen, it's very exciting for her. She'll be amazing, she'll sound incredible. She's also been announced as host of this year's Tonys.

Speaker 2 7:38

I mean her career's going up. I tell you.

Speaker 1 7:41

The world is her oyster at the moment. Oh to be Cynthia Erivo. Eh, good for her. She's worked hard for it, she deserves everything that comes her way.

Speaker 2 7:49

Absolutely. But yeah, it's not exciting. You're so on trend with the theatre news.

Speaker 1 7:54

I'm so with it this year with the theatre news Lauren. What can I say, Anyway? What are we talking about? What musical are we talking about this week, and why are we talking about this one?

Speaker 2 8:04

So yeah, season three already has been like a lot of old time musicals. Then we did our love episode, so this week we are doing the Prom yeah, we're bringing a bang up to date.

Speaker 1 8:19

Now, where did you pluck this little gem from Lauren?

Speaker 2 8:22

I love how you said that. This was definitely your idea. This 100% was my idea, because when this episode goes out hopefully when this episode goes out it will have been 20 years since your and my formal oh, my goodness 20 years, that's too old. I feel so old so a great opportunity to share photographs from our formal.

Speaker 1 8:49

I know older, so a great opportunity to share photographs from our formal. I know, and it's, isn't it funny. How is that what your plan all along? Oh, I look terrible.

Speaker 2 8:57

You don't.

Prom Musical Theatre Podcast Recap

Speaker 1 8:59

Do I not? Are you sure? No, I tell you, who didn't look terrible was my prom date. Yes, lovely Molly Logan. Again, it's weird how these things happen, but today, on the day of recording, she's just had her second bubba, I know. So congratulations to the fam the Flynn family the baby's, not mine, by the way. Just in case listeners are wondering oh, prom date just had a bit, not mine, no, and it's lovely.

Speaker 2 9:30

we are wondering oh, prom date just had a bit, not mine no, and it's lovely. We are in the room that we met and had a little bit of bubbles before we went up to.

Speaker 1 9:37

That's right. We came here before we went. Yeah, I know, Look at us now old and decrepit, Isn't that?

Speaker 2 9:44

crazy. Who would have thought 20 years later we would be in this room recording a musical theatre podcast?

Speaker 1 9:50

I know, listen, life plays crazy tricks.

Speaker 2 9:57

Did you think that we'd still be friends 20 years?

Speaker 1 10:00

later. Yeah yeah, I knew I'd always be friends with you.

Speaker 2 10:04

I love that answer. Yeah, that's true. No, I know, but it's nice to hear.

Speaker 1 10:10

I wouldn't be someone who has lots of friends, but the friends I have I know are friends for life and I'm very comfortable in that fact 100% true, Damn so nice. Yes, I'm a girl.

Speaker 2 10:22

So our prom was a formal.

Speaker 1 10:26

Yeah, so we ain't American, we don't call them prom, we call them a formal school, formal.

Speaker 2 10:31

And it was quite strict, wasn't it?

Speaker 1 10:33

Oh listen, it wasn't.

Speaker 2 10:35

Yeah, it was, I mean you were head boy so you probably were, like you were, on the organizing committee.

Speaker 1 10:40

Yeah, exactly, you're on the organizing committee. By the time the blooming event came, I was glad I was here and it was over. To be honest, not having to date like who he puts like 16 year olds, and in 16 we were 17 and 18 year olds in charge of having to organize some big event like a, like a, a formal or a prom.

Speaker 2 11:00

Far too young and can you remember where we had ours?

Speaker 1 11:03

not, not at all do you know, is it?

Speaker 2 11:06

I can't know the gal gorman, gal gorm. There you go, balamina. I know and we went to Skull and Banker, as I said, who in?

Speaker 1 11:13

less 17 and 18 year olds organise formal Like why?

Speaker 2 11:16

did we go there?

Speaker 1 11:17

I think because it was the cheapest.

Speaker 2 11:19

But like a kid in a bean by the time. You took in bosses, coaches and all. If you've brought me along just to slabber at me for organ, like the being part of the organizing committee, then I'm gonna go now. No and um. It was actually a really fun night, do you remember? Like the food choices and all.

Speaker 1 11:39

I remember nothing about it. And why would you remember like, why do you remember this stuff?

Speaker 2 11:47

it's really funny. So on my key rings um, from my keys, my house keys, I have a little key ring which we obviously did lots of fundraising for well, no wonder, because we had to pay for a bus to go to balamina so we sold these little key rings I, we, I was not part of the committee at all, but that's how I knew the date it was like anyway, and I still have that on my keys because obviously now I'm back in the house that I was living in.

Speaker 1 12:21

That's really cute. I don't know where my key ring is.

Speaker 2 12:25

And then there was awards given out that night.

Speaker 1 12:27

Yeah, do you remember what you got?

Speaker 2 12:28

I think I got drama Queen you. There was awards given out that night. Yeah, do you?

Speaker 1 12:30

remember what you got. I think I got drama Queen. You so did.

Speaker 2 12:34

And I stand by that one. I did the whole skill, I did the whole skill yeah, okay.

Speaker 1 12:38

What did I get?

Speaker 2 12:39

I don't know, probably best head boy ever.

Speaker 1 12:48

Well, I was, but I don't think we gave out awards for that, because that would be the most sad award you could ever get out of Chrome. Anyway, let's talk about the musical, something a lot more joyous. The band was good, from what I can remember.

Speaker 2 13:01

I can't even remember the band.

Speaker 1 13:03

You remember what you ate, but you don't remember the band.

Speaker 2 13:06

Well, do you know the reason. I remember what I ate Because the starter was melon. And if you know me, you know I will not touch melon. The only time I ever touch melon is to cut it up for my children, and even then I'm gagging because I hate the smell of it. So I had to go to our teacher at the time, who was really scary, and say I'm really sorry but I won't eat the melon.

Speaker 1 13:25

I won't eat the melon, and I knew what it was.

Speaker 2 13:27

I was a vegetarian at the time and whatever the starter was One of your many fads, one of my many fads.

Speaker 1 13:32

Nothing against vegetarians. I don't mean that by that comment. I just mean that Lauren went through experiencing or living life in a different way every fortnight. So she had a fortnight of being a vegetarian, a fortnight of being vegan, a fortnight of like being an emo and dying her hair black and wearing really dark makeup, a fortnight of being a thespian, where she came with her bari to school and like honestly, I'm not even making these up Like that all happened.

Speaker 2 14:06

And you were just being the best head boy ever.

Speaker 1 14:08

I just was my like.

Speaker 2 14:10

I didn't change from one week to the next to be honest, I was trying to find myself okay.

Speaker 1 14:14

Yeah, it took you a bloody long time Anyway.

Speaker 2 14:19

Anyway, it was something I wouldn't have. And then they said, oh, you can have melon, and I went no, I can't touch melon. So I was. They made something special for me. I was the only person.

Speaker 1 14:33

Of course they did.

Speaker 2 14:34

I was the only person, I think. Actually, there was something that I was allergic to as well.

Speaker 1 14:38

No doubt.

Speaker 2 14:39

There was a whole big drama about the food.

Speaker 1 14:41

And you're wondering why you got biggest drama queen at the awards. Okay, I think you've proved your point yeah words. Okay, I think you've proved your point. Yeah, well, the prom, the musical with music by matthew skyler, who, uh, we've talked about on the pod before with he wrote the music for elf. He's also done the wedding singer, which he won, uh, a tony for best score. Yeah, and the lyrics of the prom are by Chad Big.

Speaker 2 15:13

Big Willing.

Speaker 1 15:14

Big Willing. Well done you Book is by Bob Martin, and this was quite interesting because I don't often do this, sometimes for the pod, but I did this time around Look these people up just to see what else they've done. Bob Martin was the man in the chair in the Drowsy Chaperone, which he co-wrote as well.

Speaker 1 15:37

I didn't know enough about Bob Martin, but I actually think I should learn a wee bit more about him because he's clearly very talented. Because I love the man in the Chair, I love the Drowsy Chaperone, so he wrote that, starred in it, and he also wrote the Prom. So well done him Alongside that one it's based on an original concept by Jack Vertel.

Speaker 2 16:04

Yeah, you did that really well, thank you.

Speaker 1 16:08

Musical directed and choreographed by Casey Nicolau tells the story of an Indiana high schooler barred from bringing her girlfriend to the prom and the group of eccentric Broadway folk who infiltrate the town in an earnest, misguided attempt to fight for the injustice of the main character, who is a lesbian, and her partner. Yeah, the musical had a tryout at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, georgia, in 2016 and then premiered on Broadway in the Longacre Theatre. Great name, I think, for a theatre.

Speaker 1 16:48

It is a good name yeah, in October 2018. Yeah, it is a good name. Yeah, in October 2018.

Speaker 2 16:52

Yeah, 310 performances. Yeah, not a huge amount. No, yeah, 310. Film adaptation took place in 2020. We'll maybe talk about that.

Speaker 1 17:05

Starring Meryl Streep, no less, and James Corden, and lots of others, lots of others Now interestingly produced and directed by Ryan Murphy, who I like.

Speaker 2 17:18

Yeah, it had a US tour in 2021. And that's kind of it Like a lot. You know, I always find it a bit odd whenever smaller musicals get a film adaptation or have a buzz around it, but actually it doesn't do great on Broadway. It's just interesting what direction sometimes musicals can go in.

Speaker 1 17:42

It is sometimes interesting what musicals are picked up for, like, you know, filming or movie purposes. Yeah, it is really interesting. What was also interesting, I thought, was they had a Switzerland production, not somewhere that you would think you know would lift, you know, a musical like the Prom In the Lee Theatre, mn. They produced a version of the musical in Swiss German and instead of Edgewater, indiana, where the prom is set, the musical was set in Lucerne Hinterland, I presume Some Swiss.

Speaker 2 18:25

I'm a Swiss listener, so I'll let it go.

Speaker 1 18:26

Yeah, I'm so sorry if you're listening from Switzerland and I'm butchering all of your places Also. I'm so sorry if you're listening from Switzerland and I'm butchering all of your places Also. The four actors in the Swiss production weren't from Broadway. They were from the German musical Hub Hamburg.

Speaker 2 18:42

Yeah, I love that little fact yeah just quite bizarre.

Speaker 1 18:46

Like oh, a Switzerland production. Okay Prom was the first musical of the 2018 and 19 Broadway season to be named a New York Times Critics Pick. They said yes, such a joyful hoot, with its kinetic dancing and belting anthems, it makes you believe in musical comedy again. That's quite a powerful quote, isn't it? The variety said With a tuneful score, playful book and performances that remind you what Broadway heart and you all right there, chutzpah.

Speaker 1 19:25

Chutzpah Chutzpah is all about. I don't know, I didn't write it. The variety did C-H-U-T-Z-P-A-H. Chutzpah, chutzpah Chutzpah is all about. I don't know, I didn't write it. I didn't write it C-H-U-T-Z-P-A-H. And then the Times, a timeout magazine like that, one Gave it four out of five stars. It's cheering to see a musical comedy that engages with modern questions.

Speaker 2 19:48

Yeah, and I had David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter called the show one part satire packed with delicious theatrical in-jokes, delivered with oh no, I can't read my own writing. Oh, my goodness, by game stage veterans playing caricatures of themselves and he goes on to say the show has enough humor and heart to paper over the show yeah I think was a really key line yeah so is it something that's going to be celebrated in 40 years time?

Speaker 1 20:22

No.

Speaker 2 20:23

No, is it? Get on your feet, clap laugh forget your troubles.

Speaker 1 20:29

Type of musical theatre Feel good.

Speaker 2 20:31

Feel good. A hundred percent.

Speaker 1 20:33

And you see, when it's released to amateur the amdrams, they will have an absolute ball.

Speaker 2 20:38

Yeah.

Speaker 1 20:39

Putting it on.

Speaker 2 20:39

I know it's quite popular in America, yeah, high schools and stuff and it definitely leads itself to that will have an absolute ball, yeah, putting it on.

Speaker 1 20:42

I know it's quite popular in america.

Speaker 2 20:42

Yeah, high schools and stuff, and it definitely leads itself to that thousand percent yeah it is. It is fun.

Speaker 1 20:49

The music's great, even just listening to listen I I adore the music and I would also. I'm too old now, but if it had come earlier I would love to have got my hands on the Prom and choreographed it, because the music is so catchy and it's fun. It's a fun show. Obviously it's got a serious message behind it, but it's done in that kind of fun way. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won none, but did win the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. So yeah, yeah, it did, it did. One of the first things I learned in my music lyrical lingo was just its background and what it's based on.

Speaker 2 21:29

Same, I think. I wasn't aware that it was a real life story, exactly.

Speaker 1 21:34

I was exactly the same In 2010,.

Speaker 1 21:37

Constance McMillan was a senior at Ittawamba Agricultural High School in Mississippi in Fulton Mississippi and she had planned to bring her girlfriend to their senior prom and wear a tuxedo and in response was banned from attending by the school board. Macmillan challenged the board's decisions. In response, the board decided to entirely cancel. Challenged the board's decisions. In response, the board decided to entirely cancel that year's senior prom. Macmillan sued her school district good for her. And the federal court found the Itawamba school district guilty of violating Macmillan's First Amendment rights.

Speaker 1 22:16

However, the judge did not force the school district to reinstate the prom. The judge did not force the school district to reinstate the prom. The board did eventually allow Macmillan to attend prom, but the event was held at a. But the event held at a local country club was attended by only seven students. Local parents quietly had organised a separate prom for the rest of the students. Celebrities such as Green Day, kat Cora and Lance Bass rallied together via social media to show their support for Macmillan and agreed to help sponsor a second chance prom where Macmillan and her girlfriend could attend without homophobic black glass. And that is basically the plot of the musical, just set in a different place with different character names. But that is literally it, word for word, isn't it?

Speaker 1 23:07

For Broadway actors instead of a couple of musicians Of celebrities, yeah.

Speaker 2 23:13

And Lance Bass is from NSYNC the band then, but like literally a little connection the band then, but like literally a little connection and he used to go out with danielle fishel who played topanga in boy meets world, which was a show I love, and I listened to their podcast and pod meets world, but it was at her prom where he admitted to her that I am gay, oh kip. So I think then whenever he came up with this story, he he was like I need to support somebody.

Speaker 1 23:43

So, yeah, I just like that. It's just so crap that things like that happen. Like I love that children of that age are so comfortable to want to go to prom with their partner, regardless of you know their sexual orientation. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2 23:59

Yeah, yeah, it's just crap I know, and I know nowadays, like a lot of schools cut down on allowing outsiders into your formal or your prom um, and and that's a bit sucky sometimes you know, because if you maybe do have somebody like even just a friend or like a cousin or whatever you want to bring, but you know, you've got to kind of like keep it. Um, you know there's maybe too many rules or something on it, but um, yeah, so I do love the musical though, because obviously that's a really serious story.

Speaker 1 24:33

but then you throw in these four broadway legends, two of which have just opened a brand new musical Eleanor Roosevelt on Broadway, and it's clearly crap.

Speaker 2 24:46

Yeah, it's opened and closed.

Speaker 1 24:48

It's opened and closed you know what I mean, but they are like comic strip characters of Broadway stars, like David Rooney said they're just caricatures. Absolutely hilarious, Like David Rooney said they're just caricatures.

Musical Theatre and American Culture

Speaker 2 25:03

Absolutely hilarious they're. What if you, as a non-musical theatre lover, would think everybody is like.

Speaker 1 25:08

And it's really over the top and it's lovely, totally over the top and it's.

Speaker 2 25:12

You know all about me, yeah, and that's what makes this a really fun show.

Speaker 1 25:17

Really fun, these characters Really fun, absolutely really fun.

Speaker 2 25:21

One of the guys who played the original Trent, christopher Sieber is that right, so he was. I can never say this name right. My kids are going to laugh, Lord Far.

Speaker 1 25:36

Farquad.

Speaker 2 25:37

I call him Far Cry, right Farquad. I just never get to that name In Shrek.

Speaker 1 25:43

Yeah.

Speaker 2 25:45

He is currently in Death. Becomes Her.

Speaker 1 25:47

Yes, I like cannot wait for the full cast recording. Have you heard the three or four?

Speaker 2 25:53

I've heard the two songs, yeah.

Speaker 1 25:54

Oh, aren't they amazing.

Speaker 2 25:56

Amazing he's in that he's in a couple of TV shows Again that I watch. I'm a massive TV fan Anyway, but our lovely friends at Shamrock Tenors were on a cruise with him. Oh my goodness, I know.

Speaker 1 26:08

I'm so jealous of our friends at Shamrock Tenors yeah.

Speaker 2 26:11

So who are away having a lovely time on their North America tour at the minute? So go boys. But yeah, isn't they got to like sing with him? Isn't that class?

Speaker 1 26:21

That they got to sing with him. Yeah, how did I miss? Is this on their socials and stuff?

Speaker 2 26:26

No, it's just inside information.

Speaker 1 26:28

Inside information Say hi, very good, well in the. So basically, they hear about this story, about this high school teen who's been refused to, she's not allowed to bring her girlfriend, and they're like we have to do something. Yeah, it is our responsibility to. And also, it might not be, so, might not look so bad.

Speaker 2 26:53

Yeah.

Speaker 1 26:53

For us to be seen doing it right.

Speaker 2 26:56

This is a very selfish act.

Speaker 1 26:57

Oh my goodness, so selfish, such a selfish act. So you've got Barry, one of the Broadway legends, and in the numbers called was successful. It started to lose money and is now not doing very well. So perhaps this line alludes to the fact that the review they got from this paper isn't actually quite worth the paper it's written on and isn't quite as big a deal as they're making it out to be, and isn't quite as big a deal, as they're making it out to be, no.

Speaker 1 27:41

Which, like I didn't realise that when I'm hearing it, but knowing that, just makes it even more hilarious and ridiculous. And it's almost like they're, they're quoting, yeah, from a paper that's basically yeah, and they're clasping at straws. Yeah, totally, they're just going.

Speaker 2 27:58

oh, look this one says we're a hit, so we have to be a hit, and they're like talking about, we'll be able to do Roosevelt 2.

Speaker 1 28:05

Yeah, like a sequel to it, yeah, yeah. And then there's a reprise to that. Do you have anything in Changing?

Speaker 2 28:12

Lives, no just in Changing Lives reprise, but in the reprise is it the one I've got?

Speaker 1 28:16

We're going down to where the necks are red and the lack of dentistry thrives.

Speaker 2 28:22

No, but how rude.

Speaker 1 28:23

I know so they're talking about going to Indiana.

Speaker 2 28:26

Indiana.

Speaker 1 28:29

And they've just used several stereotypical about rural Midwestern Republican Americans in this song.

Speaker 2 28:36

Yeah.

Speaker 1 28:37

And it shows that these actors are already going into a situation where their mind's a situation where their minds already made up and in some way the people at Edgewater already have their minds made up about Emma in the very same way.

Speaker 2 28:53

True, I have it says you don't got to have a PhD in psych to know that people cow.

Speaker 1 29:02

Cow-tow, yeah, cow-tow.

Speaker 2 29:03

Yeah, cow-tow To the folks in the bays In the bays. So, which means to show deep respect by kneeling and bowing so that your head touches the ground. I don't think I could do that.

Speaker 1 29:15

Not anymore. I couldn't. I was able to do it once upon a time, when we did Joseph and we were singing Bravo.

Speaker 2 29:21

Bravo, bravo, we were singing.

Speaker 1 29:23

Our heads had to touch the ground in that number.

Speaker 2 29:25

Definitely, definitely couldn't do that I also.

Speaker 1 29:28

It's one of my favorite um uh lines in this musical uh in changing lives reprise where they're going. We're gonna march until this town looks like the end of act one of Les Mis.

Speaker 2 29:41

Love it.

Speaker 1 29:42

And obviously because I'm involved in Les Mis at the moment, Act One Les Mis ends with One Day More, a song that has everyone preparing for a political uprising. Love it and it's like, okay, not quite the same thing, but love that. You think it is. You wonderful Broadway self-indulgent folk, yeah, I love it.

Speaker 2 30:01

Bless them. I love it. Bless them, I love it.

Speaker 1 30:04

Just Breathe, lovely song.

Speaker 2 30:06

I adore that song, yeah, and even that where she just goes and you know she talks about herself and then she says Emma. Whenever this was coming out, I was actually working with a girl whose name was Emma, but I was just singing those lines and she was like are you calling me? And I was like oh no, I'm singing a song.

Speaker 1 30:27

I love that you do your research and work Amazing.

Speaker 2 30:31

Yeah, it was funny.

Speaker 1 30:33

So do you have any from?

Speaker 2 30:35

Just Breathe? No, I don't have any. I know I have nothing from Just Breathe.

Speaker 1 30:37

Well, emma's singing to herself like pep talk. Well, emma's singing to herself like pep talk and she says, note to self don't be gay in Indiana. Big heads up. That's a really stupid plan. Just so folk know, indiana is kind of infamous for its anti-LGBT policies. That occurred under the governor Mike Pence. Indiana is a fairly conservative state when it comes to LGBTQ plus acceptance. Same marriage wasn't recognized until the 6th of October 2014, four years before this musical debut.

Speaker 2 31:13

But four years after the real case took place.

Speaker 1 31:16

Exactly and as of 2023, sexual orientation and gender identity still not included in Indiana's non-discrimination laws.

Speaker 2 31:27

Interesting.

Speaker 1 31:28

Yeah.

Speaker 2 31:28

Yeah Fun.

Speaker 1 31:31

It's not. It won't be high school without a test. Yes, she sings. What a clever line that is like, because high school is a test. Every single moment clever, a clever dual usage of that word test, reverencing the fact that still young people, the only thing they should be worried about in high school the tests or the exam papers that they're going to sit, yeah, yet that's not ever the biggest test, is it?

Speaker 2 31:58

yeah, bless she Bless.

Speaker 1 32:01

She says leave today, pray, the Greyhound isn't full. I didn't realise that the Greyhound is that national bus company. Yeah, with lower fares.

Speaker 2 32:10

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 32:12

And then she sings just breathe, emma, picture a beach with golden sand.

Speaker 2 32:16

Yeah, Of course.

Speaker 1 32:16

Just breathe, emma. Picture a Xanax in your hand. Now you're good, because you know your American drugs, don't you? But I did. I was like Xanax, there is another. I literally said to myself there's another American drug I have no idea about, but Lauren will know. Yeah, xanax, medication typically used to treat anxiety or panic disorders.

Speaker 2 32:37

Is that fair? Yeah, we are prescriptive over here, is that fair? Yeah, we are prescripted over here, but the difference yeah, the difference with Americans versus us is we don't always know the name. You know, as in like the brand name of things?

Speaker 1 32:50

Okay. Yeah, Xanax is oh, so you can get Xanax here can you yeah? Oh here, that's good to know. With the production coming up soon, yeah. So what's your next musical, erica Lingle, then coming up soon, yeah, so what was, what's your next musical lyrical lingo?

Speaker 2 33:05

then. So in you happened um where they the. So the prom is coming up and it's a big thing in america where you your prom is massive. But um asking your prom date out, yeah is a big thing. Yeah, so, um, the the typical jocks are asking, like the popular kids who used to be friends with Emma but have kind of turned their backs on her.

Speaker 1 33:31

As they do.

Speaker 2 33:32

Yeah.

Speaker 1 33:34

Sorry, it's a bit of past post trauma coming out.

Speaker 2 33:40

And yeah, so this is happening. They are making their proposal like will you be my prom date? So it just says since jv football, jv football. So football obviously in america is american football not soccer, um, like we would know here. But jv stands for junior varsity, um, which is younger than the school's varsity team. So that's like your, your high team. So in simple terms, timothy please um very simple so do you know, like the school's cup rugby?

Speaker 2 34:13

okay, yes, yes, fair enough so um, that would be, you know, the school's cup team, the me, your me and 15, and then you've got your medallions. Who are the ones in fourth year? The younger ones.

Speaker 1 34:24

That are preparing or being prepared to take over.

Speaker 2 34:28

Yes, yeah, gotcha. So see how I had to like simplify that for you. That was really good.

Speaker 1 34:33

Interestingly, we have people in at the moment in school taking our kids for American football. So I'm all over it.

Speaker 2 34:42

All over it.

Speaker 1 34:43

They have to bend over and go, and then you throw the ball through their legs and the person behind them has to catch it. It's very interesting.

Speaker 2 34:49

There has been a surge in American football in Belfast in the last number of years.

Speaker 1 34:54

It's a good like. It seems like a good game.

Speaker 2 34:56

Our kids are enjoying it anyway. The Super Bowl was on a couple of weeks ago.

Speaker 1 35:00

Yeah, that's right, didn't watch it but. I'm sure it was wonderful.

Speaker 2 35:02

No, but my dad did Interesting. Yeah, that was one of his things. Whenever he retired he was going to stay up and watch it. Good for him, I know, go him.

Speaker 1 35:10

It's All About Me. Now, that's a great title for a song, isn't it? It's All, probably my favourite character in the whole show, dee Dee, who is the biggest like Broadway diva ever.

Speaker 2 35:26

And I adore her. Okay, so on that, but also don't like. I don't mean it this way. The only person I want to see playing that role is Alison Harding.

Speaker 1 35:40

Oh my God, she'd be an amazing Dee Dee, wouldn't she? Oh, oh, I hope she's listening. She would be brilliant and she'd be so funny too.

Musical Theatre References and Inspiration

Speaker 2 35:49

Yes, I want Somebody to do the prom and I want them to not look For anybody else and just have her. Wouldn't she be Like hilariously?

Speaker 1 36:03

So funny, but dry enough to make it even funnier.

Speaker 2 36:08

Better than Meryl.

Speaker 1 36:09

Yeah, oh, better than Meryl, for sure, yeah.

Speaker 2 36:12

So can somebody please do that?

Speaker 1 36:14

And if you don't know who we're talking about, go back to last season and listen to our interview with Alison Harding and Jennifer Rooney. Yeah, Friends of the pod, Good for them. Oh, she'd be brilliant. Well, Dee Dee, the Broadway star sings. I read three quarters of the news story and knew I had to come.

Speaker 2 36:32

I love that line and unless.

Speaker 1 36:33

I'm doing the miracle worker. I won't play blind, deaf and dumb there you go, I'm being Dee.

Speaker 1 36:42

Dee, I could be Alison's understudy, okay. So first of all, hilarious that she only read three quarters of the story because she couldn't be bothered reading the full story. But I didn't realise the the meaning behind playing the miracle worker, that play by Helen Keller who sorry. A play by Helen Keller, who sorry. A play about Helen Keller who was blind and deaf and about her blind tutor, Anne Sullivan, who basically worked out a way of communicating like, really like an amazing story.

Speaker 2 37:17

But then that obviously I won't play blind, deaf and dumb makes so much more sense too when you know what the miracle worker is did you know or have you seen yeah, no, I do and I've done a little bit of background work on that just even how that has helped autism training and stuff so yeah is there a film of the miracle worker?

Speaker 2 37:38

as well yeah, I would love to watch that sometime one of my favorite lines in that is um here to help and everybody goes emma and she's like because she's here to help herself.

Speaker 1 37:50

Yeah, she's here to help herself.

Speaker 2 37:51

But I mean, um, you know, it just reiterates that she is only there for herself and she needed to get out of town because the reviews were so awful. Um, but it's just so cleverly in the song that sort of uh, who am I here to help?

Speaker 1 38:08

yeah, oh, it's emma, because she forgets her name as well yeah, yeah um, yes, I think the lyrics for dd's songs in particular are really clever, really clever, and I love the line where she sings. I understand furious town folk. I did Beauty and the Beast, referring to Beauty and the Beast's song, the Mob's Song, where the townsfolk gather together in anger and fear to storm the Beast's castle. I love even her references within the song or musical theatre references. I know how I'll deal with this situation. Yeah, I love even her references within the song or musical theatre references.

Speaker 2 38:45

I know how I'll deal with this situation.

Speaker 1 38:45

Yeah, I love it Very good. Tonight Belongs to you. Love that it's great, isn't it? I love this line Life's no dress rehearsal, so why not make some waves before it's through? Go big, or you've blown it Like that's perfect, I love's perfect, like sentiments of how to live life, isn't that?

Speaker 2 39:06

especially when you're in school as well, like you know what I mean, just enjoy it amazing uh.

Speaker 1 39:12

However, add on top of that prom, yeah, getting ready for prom, they're all hair puns. Oh, I never noticed, I know. So emma has like short curly hair and she doesn't know what to do with it. Like she makes comment of but what do I do with this? Yeah, and Barry tells her to either make it wavy, big and long or blow it out.

Speaker 2 39:35

Yeah, so clever, right I didn't even get that, I know Go you for picking up on that.

Speaker 1 39:43

Try, he says I love Barry. Try to bat your eyes smize each time you grin.

Speaker 2 39:51

I love smizing.

Speaker 1 39:51

And that just shows how much it's brought the musical up to date, like it's a real modern musical. The fact they're using, you know, terms like smize, which is to smile with your eyes Absolutely. They're using, you know, terms like smiles, which is to smile with your eyes absolutely. Um, first popularized by tara banks and americans america's next top model.

Speaker 2 40:07

that's how I know it, me too like have you ever gone back and watched some of america's next top model?

Speaker 1 40:16

because it's so not acceptable. It is not acceptable. It is, I thought that, ridiculous and it's only like, not like.

Speaker 2 40:24

Me and kaitlyn, my sister, were obsessed with that and watched it all the time actually her nickname that she gives me comes from that, but anyway, um, yeah, I'm watching back now like we snippets on tiktok and um, you're like, uh, why are you speaking to her? Or like we had to do a lot of work on this photo. I know, Because your stomach You're like she sticks in, it's awful.

Speaker 1 40:47

I just remember that bit where she lost it at one of the contestants.

Speaker 2 40:51

I'm so disappointed in you. I was rooting for you.

Speaker 1 40:57

It's like so melodramatic, oh my goodness, not required.

Speaker 2 41:01

No, no, but yeah, smize. And like then, from then I was like I know how to Smize.

Speaker 1 41:06

Yeah, do you also know how to give it some zaps?

Speaker 2 41:09

Oh, my goodness, yeah, so this is a musical Erica Lingo. Is that my daughter loves a prom too, but she didn't know who Fosse was, so this musical introduced her. So that's a musical, erica Lingo.

Speaker 1 41:26

So the musical introduced her to Bob Fosse. I hope you educated her in the world of Bob Fosse.

Musical Theatre Characters and Casting

Speaker 2 41:31

Yes, of course I'm so glad, In fact actually my husband was able to do more, because that time, 20 years ago, he once watched a documentary on Bob Fosse and then quotes it all the time Amazing, good for him. I know it was when we were first starting to go out and he was like oh, I think I better learn something to do with this musical theatre thing. How he discovered a Bob Fosse documentary, I've no idea, and I say it every time.

Speaker 1 41:54

I think I probably said it on the podcast. I'll say it again Every time you're talking about Bob Fosse and you want to learn a bit more, watch Fosse, stroke Verdon. Yeah, the like, dramatise it. You learn so much from it, don't you? About his life? Yeah, well, in Zed, give us a Zed. I can't remember the character's name. It's the fourth Broadway like star that comes to save Emma or to help Emma in and her cause and I always feel a bit sorry for her.

Speaker 2 42:24

Oh, she so doesn't get as much as the other three no, and and also one number she's um, but I think that's intentional, because yeah she's always just missed out on like the lead role. Yeah, I'm just trying to find the character, so she sings zaz is a style.

Speaker 1 42:40

Zaz is style plus confidence. It means it may seem corny and kitsch, as in k-i-t-s-e-h. Did you know what kitsch means? No, go for it it means something that is ironically appreciated but is considered in pure taste oh no, I might not be saying that right am I saying that right?

Speaker 2 43:05

um, yeah I'm just still trying to find this. So we've got emma, we've got dd, we've got barry alicia alicia green, trent angie dickinson is it an angie?

Speaker 1 43:17

yeah?

Speaker 2 43:17

it must be. Yeah, nicole cape, and played her. Yeah, it's ang.

Speaker 1 43:20

Angie. Yeah, so there you go. She sings Give it Some Zazz, Give it Some Zazz. Which is so based around Bob Fosse and like Chicago and all that jazzy kind of feel, isn't it?

Speaker 2 43:31

She does mention that, though, doesn't she? Yes, she does that. She's like the third understudy or something. Yes, yeah, I.

Speaker 1 43:38

I love Trent's song as well. Love thy neighbor. It's Godspell, but then but they reference Godspell in it. It's so class, but also he's.

Speaker 2 43:46

They're only able to go Cross country to Indiana Because he's in a touring production. Of Godspell, because that song as well and it's like, and with the supporting cast of Godspell, like when they're at the trucker Event. It's so funny. But then Love Thy Neighbor is just a Godspell song. I was like you can literally pluck that out and put that in Godspell.

Speaker 1 44:11

Nobody would know that it wasn't from there, and I think that you know the fact that it is the touring company of Godspell and their touring bus and then this number. It all is done on purpose. He's saying she can't cherry pick the bible, choosing which part you want to believe, because obviously it's all about they're against. You know, emma and her girlfriend and a lot of homophobic people claim homosexuality is against God and the bible, although there are plenty of other things that are considered bad in the Bible that are perfectly acceptable today, like tattoos, and he names and shames every single one of them. He's like that tattoo would be taboo because it says that I'm not going to give you all the Bible references. You can go and check them out for yourself.

Speaker 2 45:02

Yeah.

Speaker 1 45:03

Same for virginity. It goes Shelby. You look sweet to me, but if it has to come to be, you've lost your virginity. We'll stone you and your family as well.

Speaker 2 45:16

Yeah, and if you've got a step stepdad or divorce?

Speaker 1 45:20

Yeah, but the scripture does imply that your mom will have to die. Yeah, love it.

Speaker 2 45:25

Love it all, but I love that song because you know that love thy neighbor. Whenever you look at the Bible as well, you know that is the main message that Jesus says Just love one another.

Speaker 1 45:37

And that's what Trent says too. There's one rule that trumps them all Love thy neighbor, love thy neighbour, love thy neighbour.

Speaker 2 45:46

There's something else I was going to say about that song, but yeah, I do actually like how it's done in the film, because it's quite like it's in the mall, isn't it? It's just fun and everything. But yeah, because I mean it also says in the bible about like you need to wear hats to Sunday you know go to church on Sunday but nobody does that anymore do they take their hats off in church like they should do in the theatre?

Speaker 1 46:12

they?

Speaker 2 46:12

should do in the theatre I know we had. Some people were horrified at that, did we?

Speaker 1 46:18

I'll be honest with you. I have been so busy I haven't looked near the socials. I'm so sorry folks, but Lauren's all over it you see you're the social boss. The song I was talking about earlier, where the Godspell cast, come out and they also come out in Love Thy Neighbor is the acceptance song, except one other it's so funny and I think that's what you've got to take from this musical. It's so tongue in cheek so tongue in cheek and you need to go in.

Speaker 1 46:44

Being like this is ridiculous yeah and then you will love it but, but, and I love musicals like this, where it is so tongue in cheek and so ridiculous and then it'll like stomach punch you with the real message or a reminder of what they're actually fighting for. Do you know? I love that, that kind of juxtaposition Like you know, it's all, and then actually this is really serious and it's not okay. No, no, no, yeah.

Speaker 2 47:13

I did like in the film how the song Alyssa Green was not where it is in the stage show. It's sort of like later on, because I feel like that gave you a better understanding of Alyssa, yeah, and why she wasn't as open to you. Know, know, coming out and saying that she was wanting to go to prom with Emma because, for those that aren't aware of it, emma is wanting to bring her girlfriend, who goes to the same school, but only Emma is kind of taking the flack right now.

Speaker 2 47:48

But I think in the musical that song about her saying she's got to get straight A's and her mum puts an awful lot of pressure on her. It comes a wee bit too late for me in the musical but in the film. It's a wee bit earlier and I can understand, then, why she's almost letting her girlfriend take all the blame. You know, and like all this, it's because it's not nice what's happening to her and poor Emma's parents ran away, not ran away, have disowned her.

Speaker 1 48:13

You know because of this, so yeah, that's just a little One of the biggest things I learnt from the prom was my brand new obsessions with two actual Broadway performers who played the original Dee Dee and the original Barry, and I don't know how, but they totally slipped through the net for me until I listened to the original musical cast recording of the Prom, and that's Beth Lavelle, or Lavelle L-E-A-V-E-L. She won a Tony Award for here we Go Again, the Drowsy Chaperone. She's been in Elf, the Musical Young Frankenstein and right bang up to date. She has just opened in Broadway in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, alongside Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. Yeah, and that's at the Stephen Sondheim stage concert or like collaborator collection. I suppose that opened in the West End. That's right, was that last year? Yeah, doing my car run, and it's now made as Broadway.

Speaker 2 49:26

She also did Dorothy Brock for 42nd.

Speaker 1 49:29

Street. Oh yeah, she did bring Dorothy Brock she was Tess in.

Speaker 2 49:32

Crazy for you.

Speaker 1 49:33

Yeah.

Speaker 2 49:35

And what else did? I think that she was great in oh, she played Donna in the Winter Garden's Mamma Mia.

Speaker 1 49:42

Right, okay, so she yeah. But she's like so amazing, yeah. And then Barry, who was played by now, forgive me, because I'm still trying to work out how to say this guy's surname it's Brooks Ashman-Skass. Yeah, is that right? Yeah.

Speaker 2 50:00

Ashman-Skass yeah.

Speaker 1 50:02

And he was in Songs for a New World, the Producers, which he would be brilliant. Martin Short, the Fame Becomes Me, which he was Tony nominated for. I've never heard of that musical before. Promises, Promises, Bullets Over Broadway, which I love the soundtrack to, and our fave, Something Rotten, Something Rotten yeah.

Speaker 1 50:22

And he. But those two play those parts so brilliantly, so controversial maybe. I adore Meryl Streep very much and I love everything that she does and I thought she was good in the prom the movie, but why did they not just cast those the original four Broadway stars that were in the original production in the movie? It didn't need these big names. Original production in the movie it didn't need these big names. James Corden destroyed that movie, in my opinion, by playing Barry.

Speaker 2 51:02

Brooks would have been just amazing, especially because the musical was on Broadway in 2018 and from the film was 2020. That is two years.

Speaker 1 51:12

Yeah, a thousand percent.

Speaker 2 51:13

Two years. There is not something you you know, like it wasn't, like it was 10 years and there was going to be a massive difference in the characters or something like that, that they should have played it they.

Speaker 2 51:24

They should have, and I know that that is a major flaw with the film I think so um, because whenever you do look like I think they did um performance wasn't for the Tony Awards or something. There's a couple of performances on YouTube and you're just like they were great, and when you listen to the cast recording, they're amazing, perfect.

Speaker 1 51:44

Absolutely perfect. You know, obviously they originated the roles, but it doesn't matter, they were perfect Whereas I think the likes of Corden like over overplayed it yeah, there wasn't a trip. Like, although they're playing these big and over the top characters, there has to be a truthfulness to it. Like you have to truly believe Dee. Dee is as warped as she is and thinking like she's going to be like a match.

Speaker 2 52:11

She's going to get such amazing press for, like going and doing this for this girl, you know especially whenever you know the parts of Emma and Alyssa were Alyssa, sorry, were played by members of the LGBTQ, but then Barry wasn't.

Speaker 1 52:35

Yeah, do you know.

Speaker 2 52:35

So there was a big deal made that they were from that community.

Speaker 1 52:40

I think they just thought big names will sell this on Netflix, and they think that that was difficult. Yeah.

Speaker 2 52:45

But then I mean, I always have this like love, hate sort of you know, whenever I'm like, oh, I don't agree with that decision, but I'm like, like. But then a lot of people have come to musical theater then because they've fallen in love with prom um on netflix and then that's maybe opened other doors of new musicals. So it was a good way of introducing musicals to people.

Speaker 1 53:06

And I am now and it's not one of those like movie musicals where I'm going oh, that was a travesty like it's not. Like put it in the bin like cats. No, do you know what I mean. Like I would mention it.

Speaker 2 53:18

Yeah.

Speaker 1 53:18

You know, if we were talking about movie musicals, I would mention the Prom, because I think the musical's brilliant, the music's fab, and it wasn't terrible. No, nor was James Corden terrible, but he just wasn't a great choice, just not.

Speaker 2 53:32

And terrible. But he just wasn't a great choice, just not right, yeah just wasn't a great choice.

Speaker 1 53:34

But yeah, but those two, um, you know, beth Lavelle and Brooks at Ashman's Scass, like I was like where have they? How have they slipped through the? Net because it's not like as if they're new talent, like they've been about, yeah. And then you go back and you listen to other cast recordings, like Joyce's Chaperone, and go there she is, you know, that's her voice. And then, yeah, brilliant yeah, love it.

Speaker 2 54:01

I did think I love the character of the teacher. I love how supportive the head teacher. I love how supportive he is. I also love how it is a different, not your typical musical theatre lover. He loves musicals, you know.

Speaker 1 54:17

Yeah.

Speaker 2 54:18

And I love that, but I also love that he actually Calls them out in their nonsense. Yeah, completely calls them out, Helps and supports Emma, as any good teacher or good citizen should do, but also makes Didi a better person. Yeah, you know, I love that and I did think in the film Keegan-Michael Key played that really well but, he is a musical theatre fan.

Speaker 2 54:43

He's in Schmigadoon, which is doing really well in Washington, yeah, but yeah, so I liked that and I thought that him and Meryl Streep worked well together actually, like, as I said, I thought like I think him and Meryl Streep worked well together.

Casting Prom Musical Theatre Roles

Speaker 1 54:54

Actually, like as I said, I thought like I think anything that Meryl Streep does is great, like she was great. She was a great Dee Dee, but I just love Beth more and her numbers. My stand ovation. I love the ladies improving. So give up hope. It's when she leaves and slams the door behind. Oh, she's amazing yeah, I love Barry is going to prom because it's really cute.

Speaker 2 55:19

That is my stabbing ovation. I um, oh yeah, I love Barry's going to prom because it's adorable it's so adorable.

Speaker 1 55:29

I want to play Barry.

Speaker 2 55:31

Oh, I can 100% see you playing Barry, could you? Yeah. So I'm thinking Alison is Dee Dee and want to play Barry. Oh, I can 100% see you playing Barry, could you? Yeah? So I'm thinking Alison is Dee Dee and you as Barry?

Speaker 1 55:36

Yeah, so I'm thinking like, if someone can give it, like what? Give me five years, come back to me in five years' time. I think, I'm at the right age to play Barry, okay, and I think a role like that would tase me back on the stage, do you?

Speaker 2 55:54

think.

Speaker 1 55:56

I would if somebody knocked on my door like who's going to knock on my door, lauren? But if somebody was to like in a fantasy world, knock the door and go. We're doing a production of Prom. We want you to play Barry, are you interested? I would seriously have to consider it.

Speaker 2 56:12

I love this. Yeah, I would honestly do it. No, I wouldn't honestly do it.

Speaker 1 56:17

I'd honestly consider it, honestly consider it, and then probably freak out and go no, I couldn't possibly do a proper Barry, I couldn't possibly no, well, yeah. Okay, I'll do it.

Speaker 2 56:26

Barry, 100% is a role that I could see you doing, and probably actually when I was watching James Gordon do it. Probably actually when I was watching James Gordon do it, I was like Timothy would be better. Oh, stop it. Yeah, no, that would be great.

Speaker 1 56:38

And then I've got big love for Unruly Heart and I love how they did that in the movie.

Speaker 2 56:44

Yes, it's great.

Speaker 1 56:45

It's very modern, beautiful, but yeah, it's a lovely, but what a big lush chorus. It just gives you the feels, doesn't it? Yeah, it's lovely.

Speaker 2 56:54

It is lovely Because I think as well the way the musical is set up. You think that everything is going to be resolved and solved by the prom. Oh, she's getting to go to prom and whatever. And then you realize that no, and she then needs to take back ownership of her story. Yeah, which she does, yeah. Beautifully, and then it all, all works out Lovely in the end, and then you've got that brilliant big dance Routine at the very end Of the show.

Speaker 1 57:17

Yeah Dun dun Build a prom For everyone. Show the world it can be done. Da, da, da da.

Speaker 2 57:26

I think I would like To dance With some of those numbers. It would get you Going again.

Speaker 1 57:30

As I said, I would love to If it had been 10 years ago.

Speaker 2 57:33

Choreograph a production of it.

Speaker 1 57:34

I think I would have great fun, Especially that last number Too old now the limbs don't move and bend as much as you would need to For that big prom number.

Speaker 2 57:44

Sure choreograph, you just shout things at people.

Speaker 1 57:47

Not me. I can't sit still.

Speaker 2 57:49

It kills me.

Speaker 1 57:51

Absolutely kills me. That was really fun and a really nice reason for doing it. Our prom anniversary. It kills me, absolutely kills me. Yeah, that was really fun. It was a fun one and a really nice reason For doing it. I know Our prom anniversary.

Speaker 2 57:59

Yeah, and I promise Everybody will share Photos of us. I.

Speaker 1 58:04

Honestly, I can't even imagine what photographs she have.

Speaker 2 58:07

I have good photos, yeah right, just of us Stabbing right there In that corner. No, I'll not show Like actual Act, because right of us a prom. No, I'm not sure like actual because I don't think I have very many of them.

Speaker 1 58:17

You just have us with a shampoo here.

Speaker 2 58:19

Digital camera. Do you know what I?

Speaker 1 58:22

mean I'm not too sure that's true, because we're so old that we didn't have all of our phones.

Speaker 2 58:24

I might have some of the after party, but I don't think that was Don't show the after party. No, that's what I mean. I don't think we'll. We'll just focus on what we looked like before as we were getting on to the coach.

Speaker 1 58:34

Yeah, remember yeah.

Speaker 2 58:36

Because I had to go all the way to Balmain.

Speaker 1 58:38

I think I wore black and white spats, didn't I you?

Speaker 2 58:40

did. Yeah, see, it's slowly coming back.

Speaker 1 58:43

I had style. Even back then you did. Who wears black and white spats to prom?

Speaker 2 58:47

And then Molly was like coordinated with you, yeah she was black and white polka dot.

Speaker 1 58:51

She looked amazing, like Molly looked amazing and nobody was dressed like her there, like she was really class.

Speaker 2 58:59

I know my mummy in my dress.

Speaker 1 59:01

Yeah, you were dressed you were green?

Speaker 2 59:02

weren't you All green? And it was the material from the Strictly people. It was all exciting.

Speaker 1 59:09

Gorgeous.

Speaker 2 59:10

Loved it, loved it, so yeah that was a nice.

Speaker 1 59:13

What would Paddy have done? Would she have gone to prom?

Speaker 2 59:19

What would she?

Speaker 1 59:21

have worn. Oh, a hat, paddy would do a good DD. Yeah, yeah, the DD's improving.

Speaker 2 59:28

So long, dad. I think your Paddy's even better than your Cher, do you?

Speaker 1 59:34

reckon I haven't done Cher in a long time.

Speaker 2 59:37

Like two weeks.

Speaker 1 59:40

Cher wouldn't give a do-do. That's bloody awful. Do you want to say dear? What would a Paddy do?

Speaker 2 59:49

Yes, what would Paddy?

Speaker 1 59:50

do To round us off. You ready? Yeah, go for it.

Speaker 2 59:52

What would Paddy do To round us off?

Speaker 1 59:53

You ready, yeah, go for it Would, paddy, rather have an awkward mid-performance sneeze or, like Kristen Chenoweth in Wicked, accidentally snort during a song.

Speaker 2 1:00:09

Sneeze, sneeze.

Speaker 1 1:00:12

You'd be okay with an awkward sneeze even if it was really awkward, like say, unruly Heart, like a really slow melody, then all of a sudden just go.

Speaker 2 1:00:25

Yeah, because I feel like that's so awkward. No, but I feel like you could embed that in your character while a snort.

Speaker 1 1:00:34

You could embed a sneeze in your character, because you could just go oh yeah, to be fair, because you've got a weird ass sneeze. Excuse me, you do. You've got like a wee. That's how you sneeze. Actually, your sneeze isn't so non-significant like everybody wants a sneeze like yours. You just turn your head to the side and go and that's you done, whereas everybody, everybody else just goes and you're like Like literally the fastest non, like non-sneeze sneezer in the world.

Speaker 2 1:01:10

I'm really good at holding in, like as in making sneezes quiet. While my husband, on the other hand, is he a big. They're like three in a row and I'm like there's no need. There is no need for your sneeze To be that loud.

Production Week Excitement and Special Guest

Speaker 1 1:01:24

And then I'm weird Because I sneeze and then I can't help it. It just is an after effect. I go, I know, but I just can effect. I go, I know, but I just can't Like. I go Like absolute weirdo. Is it your dick? It is like my dick, it's so, but it's really weird. And every so often I'll do it in class when I sneeze and they all start laughing and I'm like what are you laughing at? It's my sneeze. Stop discriminating against your teacher because he sneezes in a weird way.

Speaker 2 1:01:57

But there's nothing like children calling you out for the weird things you do. I have like a tick, like a, like a shiver thing, that I do, which I don't. Well, I knew I did, but I didn't realize it was as obvious yeah.

Speaker 1 1:02:16

But my kids are now starting to go. Don't you just hate when you're sitting beside mummy and she just goes? Rude, give me a break. Anyway, there we go. None as queer as folk, gay, absolutely. That was a really lovely it was cute and do you know what? When you need to feel really uplifted, you listen to the prom like the music is really uplifting and fun and good.

Speaker 1 1:02:34

It's an earworm yeah, it gets stuck in there, which is nice amazing feeling upbeat for a while well, next week yeah, is a scary week for me because it's production week- yeah yeah, so yeah, we're gonna have that and we're gonna have, uh, we uh, special guest to the pod, all in the one week we are. What am I thinking? What are you thinking? I think I might have to have a lie down after, to be honest, like I might need to go into hiding for a month.

Speaker 2 1:03:03

It's all exciting and you will remember it for the rest of your life.

Speaker 1 1:03:07

For the rest of my life. I hope for good reasons. You will. I hope for good reasons. You will, a hundred percent. Well, we'll see you next week with our special guest. Until then, bye, bye.