Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Why does one newsie have an unlit cigar in his mouth the whole show? I thought Disney was very against smoking in their productions. | |
| Posted by: BillyD 09:49 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
| In reply to: Agreed - KingSpeed 04:22 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
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| When I watched NEWSIES on Disney Plus, there's an anti-smoking PSA before the show, and an on-screen warning about smoking depictions. The cigar seems to add nothing to the plot, and is never lit. It seems an odd choice given the athletic choreography. |
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| re: Why does one newsie have an unlit cigar in his mouth the whole show? I thought Disney was very against smoking in their productions. | |
| Posted by: royscho 10:31 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
| In reply to: Why does one newsie have an unlit cigar in his mouth the whole show? I thought Disney was very against smoking in their productions. - BillyD 09:49 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
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| Maybe because the lyrics say “that’s my cigar! -you’ll get another” (or something like that.) And it made sense to keep it out of respect to the lyrics and original intent, and it adds flavor to the character, given the time period in which the show takes place. The show was created for theatre, not Disney plus. When it was time to add the filmed version to Disney plus, it probably didn’t seem like a deal breaker. I also don’t recall the dancer smoking, he’s just chewing a cigar prop. Honestly, Disney theatrical had far more bizarre choices when it comes to “adult themes” in their shows. The suggested nudity in Mary Poppins and Frozen is far more cringey than a cigar-chomping newsboy. |
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| 'That's my cigar' ... 'You'll steal another' | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 10:32 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 10:27 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
| In reply to: Why does one newsie have an unlit cigar in his mouth the whole show? I thought Disney was very against smoking in their productions. - BillyD 09:49 am EDT 08/10/20 | |
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| The cigar is mentioned in Jack Feldman's lyric to the song ''Carrying the Banner.'' It's a reference to a real-life Newsie, Anthony ''Racetrack'' Higgins, who was mentioned in the historical coverage of the 1899 newsboys' strike in N.Y. In the original 1992 Disney movie, he was depicted (by Max Casella) as a cigar-chomping, wisecracking guy who loved to bet and hang around the racetrack. Ryan Breslin originated the role of Race on Broadway, and Ben Cook played him in the national tour (and in this filmed version). In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Cook was asked if it was a challenge to play Race with a cigar. Cook: ''It did at first. It was really hard to get used to dancing with it in my mouth the entire show. But now it's become second nature. I couldn't imagine doing it without the cigar.'' |
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