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Thursday, July 23, 2009

What's Up With French Mobs??



Ok, has anyone else ever noticed the constant presence of French mobs? In every musical I know of that takes place in France, there's a mob of some kind.

First of all, there's Les Mis. This one is probably the most prominent with all the revolution going on. I mean, this French mob has got it all: the flag, the barricade, the rousing call to arms with "Do You Hear the People Sing." How can you go wrong?

Phantom of the Opera: This mob is less prominent, but it's a mob nonetheless. How can it not be a mob when they're shouting/singing, "Track down this murderer; he must be found!"and the like.

Hunchback of Notre Dame: It's been quite a while since I've seen the movie or the musical they used to have at MGM Studios, but I remember distinctly there's a mob of some kind.


Marie: I saw a ballet once that was based on the life of Marie Antoinette, and ohhh...that mob. That was not a pretty one.

Beauty and the Beast: This one should get a special reward because they actually have a song called, wait for it.... "The Mob Song" !!!



I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of any at this time. If anyone can think of other French mobs, leave a comment!
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My Fair Lady rehearsals are going very well. We had the first big stumble-through last Saturday, and it went surprisingly well considering all the people who were out of town. I have to say that my favorite role in the musical (I have three, Maid 1, a cockney chorus girl, and a woman at Ascot) is my cockney girl. I mean really, the cockneys get all the fun songs: Loverly, Little Bit O' Luck and Reprise, and Church on Time. And my character is the one who spends most of her time philanderin' with Doolittle, so I'm in all of those. Score! Plus, cockney is an 'ole lot more fun ta speak than proper British.

7 musings:

Q said...

Is there a mob in The Scarlet Pimpernel? I can't remember. If there isn't, it's because of those British influences.

I think I would prefer to be an Ascot lady, because I can't pull off cockney in the least.

Tricia Keierleber said...

I have not been blessed enough to see the other shows yet, but I know my B&B! I am singing the mob song now! lol

Madeline said...

So true about french mobs! Bastille Day celebrates the day they mobbed a prison and got the flour. And I think the mob from B&B should get even more extra points for having that terribly large tree with no branches whatsoever lying around waiting to bash in a castle door!

Lady Brainsample said...

Q: I am unfamiliar with that book/musical, so I don't know, but if it's French, I'm sure there is.
And oh, believe me, it took some work before I was able to pull off cockney. I think I actually have more problems with a proper British, its good that my only speaking lines are cockney, ha ha...

Tricia: Good ol' Mob Song! (with its reference to That Scottish Play)

Pixilated: HA!! You are so right about the tree!! Great points..

PiningForTheFjords said...

I can't think of any more. However the spectators of the tour de frog sometimes look like a mob.

PiningForTheFjords said...

I was thinking of Spamalot this morning, and it occurred to me that while it is not in France per se, the French Taunters constitute a somewhat diminutive yet effective French mob.

On a side note regarding My Fair Lady, your singin', actin', and dancin' in general have been magnificent.

Bethany said...

Hah--I just read A Tale of Two Cities, and I don't think there's been a musical done of it, but that's gotta be another ultimate mob! Mme. Defarge and all. Love it