"Agreed - obviously Billis is supposed to be the 'comic' character - but he's just not funny. "
Right. I certainly understand why they tried to get some comic relief into Act II, and specifically into that scene just before we learn of Cable's fate, but I agree with you, the Billis stuff is just not funny.
"If we're going to look at issues of prejudice and stereotype, etc, his seeming obsession with the whole boar's tooth ceremony stuff fits right in.
Well, unless I misunderstand you, I'm not sure I agree with that. It seems pretty clear to me tha Billis is obsessed with that ceremony for two reasons: (1) the boar's teeth are apparently very valuable, if you can get your hands on one, and he's all about money; (2) we're told that the ceremony involves women dancing "with just skirts on," and that's another thing Billis is very interested in. I just doubled checked and the stuff about the boar's tooth ceremony is from Michener. I assume he provided an accurate description of it, which was then referenced in the musical. |
