Chatterbox: Pudding's Place

NEWSIES!

Okay, I think I need help.

I just finished watching Newsies! (the one with Jeremy Jordan), and…

First, I’d like to say, sorry Rose bud. xD On the Broadway trivia thread? I regret my ignorance. In my defence, I got at least one (David) maybe two (Katherine?) correct without knowing anything about it!! Hehe.

Secondly, I know at least some of you are thinking, “What’s Newsies?” Well, I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!

Newsies is a Broadway show based on the paperboy strike of 1899 in New York. It’s based on true events, although things are fictionalized in it. Protagonist Jack Kelly is the leader of a ragtag group of “newsies,” or paperboys. They would deliver the papers to citizens of New York. When Joseph Pulitzer raises the prices of the papers by 10 cents (which may not sound like much, but back then that was a LOT.), Jack gets fed up, and a newcomer newsie (Davey) encourages and helps him start a strike. The play is about the adventures that it took to get Joseph to lower the prices again, but also to gain justice for the newsies. It’s AMAZING.

Now that that’s out of the way, the show.

IT WAS SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!

I think my favorite character was Davey, because I just really admire him. He was able to handle most of the situations with level-headedness. Congrats, bud. He also has an amazing voice, which adds to that. (Yes, Seize the Day just maaay be my favorite song, although Santa Fe rivals it closely. But The World Will Know is so good though...GAH!)

Les was just too cute.

Crutchie comes in close second to Davey. More about this in a moment.

Jack...came and went for me. I either loved him or hated him. But he’s so spunky and sarcastic, I can’t help but laugh. His voice was good too. I got kinda fed up with the whole “run to Santa Fe thing,” although I understand the reasons behind it. It can sometimes just be too much.

I’m also very impressed with how this largely-un-New-Yorkian cast was able to keep their accents during the songs. Jeez!!! That’s not easy!!

Alright. Now my serious feelings.

SPOILERS MAY ABOUND. THANKS.

When Crutchie got arrested, this is about when I turned to my mom and asked, “And this all really happened.” She explained that it was fictionalized, but yes, that’s really how the kids were treated. I turned back around and smoldered in my seat for the rest of the play.

This makes me so mad! I suppose it’s the same as slavery (which isn’t any better!!), but I can’t believe the way these...10 to 17-year-olds were treated! I was seriously mad at Snyder, and that no one would believe that he was this awful man. That scene of Crutchie in the Refuge though almost made me cry.

I think the one that I actually cried at was the scene directly after Crutchie’s arrest. (If you’re rusty, that’s the scene where Jack runs back up to the “penthouse” and sings about Santa Fe.) I felt so bad for him, and yet at the same time, I couldn’t believe, as reckless as he was, that he hadn’t rushed down there. And then the fact that he just wanted to run away from his problems...let’s just say I was glad Davey and Katherine were there to talk him into staying.

The other scene that hit me hard was the rally. (Where Jack...sort of...betrays I guess? His friends.) The way that Davey just looked at Jack like, “How could you?,” and Jack tried to tell him, I was just like...You flubbed up this time, man. Just...don’t try.

GAH!!!!!

Also, I may be trying to draw parallels where there are none, but Jack kinda reminds me of Nico di Angelo from Percy Jackson. If you don’t know how, (or haven’t read the books--how dare you! ;)) I’m not going to tell you. Just...Tartarus = Refuge. That should give you a clue as to what I’m thinking.

Ok. I think I’m done.

Someone...send help. I’m officially obsessed.

@Brooklyn Newsie, I assume there’s no escape from this? In the words of Minho, “We would’ve found a way out by now.” xD