Silversong
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So, Belle, What'll It Be?Having been gripped by an extraordinary BatB obsession for over a week ("I don't CARE if it's over twelve hours by car, I CAN SO walk to Broadway!!"), I have found myself extremely bothered by this for three days now. It's so incredibly ... geeky, and yet, I have to address it or I'll never have peace.
And so.
In "Me"... Gaston's line... 'Is it "yes", or is it "oh, yes"'....
How do you think this line should be delivered?
There seem to be two basic options. The "Is it yes, or is it, oh, yes?" version, and then the "Is it yes, or is it OOHH, YEEES!?" version.
To a normal person, I suppose it wouldn't matter. But for whatever reason, the latter delivery...really bothers me. It seems to be used in every high school production I've ever witnessed, so maybe it's just overused in my mind. But aside from that, my problems seem to be that:
A. It doesn't seem to fit properly (sounding too much like a guy who has "scored", but NOT a girl),
B, tends to be delivered extremely over-the-top to the point where it's too jarring to be funny,
and C, the fact that the former is more subtle, with even less of a difference between the two options, if such a thing were to be possible. This, to me, equals more obnoxious, which in turn equals more amusing.
The more subtle, cool, and confident the line can be delivered, the better, for me.
But what do other people think?
Do other people even care? If you care, tell me what you think. Or, feel free to highlight other lines that are near and dear to you, and/or ideas about how they should be delivered.
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LumBabsFan
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From my best pal, the best, most respected "Gastonian" on the planet:
| TrudiRose wrote: | I think No. 2 is the better option. The first way doesn't make much sense to me: "Is it yes, or is it oh, yes?" If there's barely a difference between the two, the line doesn't make any sense - if they sound the same, why would Gaston express it as two options? To me, the point of the line is: "Will your response be yes...or will it be a really enthusiastic, EXCITED yes?"
IMO, the best version I ever heard was Donny Osmond's, funnily enough. He milked that line for all it was worth. He said "Is it yes..." and then, on "or is it..." he shrugged and looked disappointed, like he was already pondering the sad possibility that she might say no...totally setting up the punchline. And then he SQUEALED "Oh, YES!" in a high-pitched voice like a Silly Girl. It was perfect.
That approach avoids your complaint of "sounding like a guy who's scored instead of a girl" - he definitely sounded like a girl! As for being "too over the top" - personally, I think Gaston IS over the top - that's kind of the point of his character IMO. I don't mean the actor should be cartoony or anything like that (I agree that that approach can be annoying), but Gaston IS bombastic and loud and larger-than-life. So I think a really enthusiastic "Oh, YES!" works well.
Totally JMO, obviously. |
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Luc
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LumBabs, you've seen the show a few times (  ). You've probably heard a million different ways to say the line. What do you think was the best, besides Donny?
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LumBabsFan
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Truthfully, Donny's is probably the best. Grant Norman had his definite moments when he'd go between the two choices above.
But I do agree with my pal Trudi. Gaston is meant to just reach that over-the-top bar without being insanely cartoony to the point of annoying. So the more the actor can hit that mark, the better. I say "OH YES!" works best.
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MademoiselleMusicals
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I love that line. It makes me faint with giddyness and excitement.
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DaddyDiesel
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I actually tryed it both ways. I had 22 shows to experiment  ! I actually used it only once the 1st way. I never said overly bad. The one night I changfed from my overacting version to the 1st option you suggested my director was pissed and the audience didnt laugh at all. Gaston is over the top. Especially the song me. I really wraps up the song great when you do the over the top version. I always got great laughs on that. Its kind of funny but its pretty difficult to overact gaston. Notice how I said Pretty difficult there are people out the who can do it. Just my thoughts.
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TR_Wolf
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The best way I heard was how Earl Carpenter did it on the first UK Tour, which is,
"is it yes? or is it OHHHHH YyyyESSS!"
ie, the "ohh" was kind of growled out as he turned his head to her, not just spoken as the recordings do it, and the "Yes!" part had the Y extended but the "es" quite sharp, as if to sound a bit lustful.
Wish I could describe better.
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Silversong
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Yeah, I'm willing to believe a good performer can definately pull it off. And I confess, it has made me laugh both ways.
I guess the thing that has bothered me is that, if you draw Gaston's personality from the movie -- he's not a silly character. Even with the addition of "Me" in the stage show, Gaston is 'big and loud', and yes, even over-the-top, but he takes himself *very* seriously. So even if he's ridiculous, and everyone else knows it, HE still thinks he's being cool. So when delivering such a ridiculous line, it's really important to remember that Gaston isn't trying to be funny or cute, or get a laugh -- he actually BELIEVES what he's saying. I need to see pure ego there, not JUST a gag.
Anyway, that made sense to me, so hopefully, it will to you.
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Luc
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I understand what you are saying, but I don't think I agree with you.
I do agree with the part about how he's so sure of himself, but this opportunity is golden for Gaston to get a laugh. It just seems natural.
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Silversong
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I don't think we actually disagree.
When Belle says something that gets a laugh, she does so on "purpose", in that the character is the one making the joke. Gaston should ABSOLUTELY get a huge laugh at that point -- but not because the character was trying to be funny. See what I mean?
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DaddyDiesel
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Im going to agree with silverstar. Gaston is funny because hes not trying to be funny. Thats what is hilarious about him. He is so egocentric. He is a true narcicist. Thus is swhy when Belle makes a joke she can have a small sarcastic smirk. Gaston just has to look straight forward.
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MademoiselleMusicals
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^^^ Exactly. He's one of those characters that takes life so seriously but who is actually very funny because of the way he is so smarmy and vain etc. Gaston is funny because hes not trying to be funny
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DaddyDiesel
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ddf
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