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gwenster · 26 days

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This Had Better Come to a Stop (March of the Falsettos)

Per usual, Marvin is projecting his misogyny onto the people in his life. This statement demonstrates Marvin's insistence for Whizzer to take on a domestic role in their relationship as he attempts to compensate for the lack of a housewife role in his life following his divorce. He wants Whizzer to take over Trina’s previous role with no complaints; in “Tight Knit Family (Reprise)” Marvin literally states, “I want a wife who knows what love is” as if he wants a wife when we clearly know that is not the case.

Not only that, it demonstrates Marvin’s continual disrespect for Whizzer’s emotions as the statement clearly shows his disregard for whatever Whizzer is feeling: “hating him” or “needing him.” Marvin doesn’t believe that Whizzer loves him and so he self-sabotages through dismissing his own, and Whizzer’s, emotions.

Marvin’s self-centeredness is not something the musical shies away from admitting and thus us a prime example of just that. It highlights Marvin’s selfish nature, prioritizing his own needs and desires over Whizzer’s.

The subject of the lyrics pertaining to food is so fitting. The continued textual theme of food in the Marvin Trilogy is one of my favorite things to point out and it deserves its own analysis post but for now I’ll stick to writing about how these lyrics highlight Marvin’s particular relationship with meals and cooking. With a concept like this that unmistakably dates all the way back to the sequel, with In Trousers specifically honing in on his obsession with meals with songs like, “How Marvin Eats His Breakfast” and continues to plague the rest of the trilogy.

This Had Better Come to a Stop (Falsettos)

The lyrics in Falsettos differ. I am curious as to why the lyrics were replaced. In the context of Marvin’s character and the pair's relationship, the remark is so meaningful that its removal feels like a missed opportunity; I almost feel robbed due to its absence. Not that I dislike the new lyrics by any means; rather, I adore them.

The entire exchange between Marvin and Whizzer during the beginning of this number is truly one of my favorite scenes in the entire musical. The acting in this singular minute of dialogue is breathtaking, it’s so grounded and characterizes the pair insanely well.

Even though it’s directed at Whizzer, Marvin’s remark on how “Life can be wonderful” is him reassuring himself of that fact, not Whizzer. In this scene, he shows no regard for Whizzer’s emotions; continuing the very one sided nature of the exchange the two are enduring.

Following the reflection of his life, he narrows down his analysis, remarking on his relationship with Whizzer. With his words now partially directed at the other he states, “Isn’t this wonderful?” seemingly giving Whizzer the floor to voice his opinion. Which, in the proshot, Whizzer eagerly does, or rather, attempts to. He begins to reply in an effort to soothe the other and point out the truth in his statement, but an insecure Marvin, who admittedly enjoys picking fights over trivial issues, interrupts him, continuing to stir the pot.

Whizzer’s actions heavily contrast his nature in previous scenes. Unlike “The Thrill of First Love” which introduces us to their relationship, describing how both Marvin and Whizzer both enjoy fighting stating how “of all the lesser passions” they “like fighting most.” Marvin is still acting under this notion. Despite this, Whizzer acts maturely in this situation, making an effort to have a sincere discussion. This is the first time we see Whizzer’s genuine investment in the committed aspect of their relationship, showing there is more to him than originally presented. It’s just another example of how he’s not so great at continuing his facade of not wanting something serious while actively pursuing exactly that. Namely how it explicitly states that he’s had dinners with Marvin’s immediate family and has familiarized himself with his child to the extent that he has.

As previously mentioned, the acting in this scene is amazing. Depending on the performance there are plenty of conclusions that can be drawn from their own interpretations and I’ve had varying ones over the years but it’s undeniable that their body language speaks volumes.

I wish I had access to any stage directions from this moment, but alas I will just be describing what I see:

Whizzer is provoked and stands up to emphasize his point. Marvin then grabs the collar of Whizzer’s suit and shakes him while proclaiming “Life can be wonderful.” He lets go and continues with “Isn’t this wonderful?” Following this Whizzer reaches out to reassure him but Marvin is quick to push him away to which Whizzer flinches or at least experiences a full-body pause to represent shock or dismay and he spends the rest of the confrontation stone faced after freezing up.

Marvin’s display is insanely contradicting, he speaks so gently at moments yet aggressive is at the same time. Due to this Whizzer is left confused, scared even, during their interaction with his whole demeanor changing when Marvin puts his hands on him.

TLDR. I adore both renditions of “This Had Better Come to a Stop.” It’s arguably my favorite song in the entire Falsettos soundtrack and I love both variants of these lyrics. I feel like Marvin as I practically profess how, “I want it all” as I wish these lines could coexist in the same version because of how impactful and relevant they are.

#falsettos #march of the falsettos #falsettoland #in trousers #marvin falsettos #whizzer brown #marvin x whizzer #falsettos analysis

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annabelles1692 · 11 months

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my favorite background moments in falsettos (2017)

this is purely because i am insane. it's a very long list. i might make a similar post for the bootleg of the original broadway cast because they are also very dear to me. anyway, list is below the line!

3:50 ("four jews in a room") during the last chorus, whizzer + mendel starting spinning in a circle as opposed to dancing normally

3:54 ("four jews in a room") trina accepts a piece of the block from marvin and grabs at the back of his head, seemingly picking something out of his hair and tossing it to the ground

17:16 ("marvin @ the physiatrist") following whizzer's "part two", marvin looks over at him and smiles (i can't tell if this is christian to andrew or if it's supposed to be in character)

21:55 ( "my father's a homo") as jason says "my mother's no wife" and "my father's no man, no man at all", both trina and marvin react to their relative assessment. trina stops for a moment and shoots jason a stern look, while marvin turns back at each repeat of 'no man' to stare desperately at him.

25:34 ("everyone tells jason to see a physiatrist") whizzer grins at jason encouragingly following his line "absolutely, jason"

43:16 ("a tight-knit family reprise") following mendel's line "it's embarrassing" marvin looks to whizzer and says "you're watching embarassing" (i'm like 90% sure on this one haha)

43:18 ("a tight-knit family reprise") as marvin's pushing jason away as he's on the cube, he says to him "i can't look at this jackass"

43:55 ("a tight-knit family reprise") after mendel and marvin arm wrestle, whizzer and jason exchange a look

49:50 ("trina's song reprise") trina reemerges having changed costumes, her outfit now including a beaded bracelet we see mendel wearing earlier on in the show

54:57 ("the chess game") as whizzer is yelling at marvin (and the audience) about marvin's absurd expectations, marvin says "come on" and "is that all you got?"

56:00 ("making a home") jason retreats to the background to set his chess board down as well as push in a looser block - not sure if this is just anthony fixing the set or if it's supposed to be in character. he then proceeds to watch trina + mendel setting up the couch before looking up/out to the audience as they do (with the lines "what it needs is people/men and women talking"). he does the same thing at 57:30 during the second chorus

56:23 ("making a home") whizzer is pulling out his clothes from inside one of the blocks, similar to how trina retrieves the couch throw pillows later on

57:08 ("making a home") the photographs they set on the mantlepiece appear to be historical family portraits; the one in the back is most likely trina as a child with her parents, and the one in front are mendel's parents (judging by the era of clothing)

1:03:40 (marvin hits trina") rather than use an instrument (like a clapper), whizzer uses his hands to make the slapping sound

1:05:22 ("i never wanted to love you") marvin and whizzer's eye contact lingers after whizzer's part. i'm curious what you all think christian's trying to express here - to me it looks like he's about to start crying before he turns away.

1:20:00 ("miracle of judaism") when the family erupts to tell jason the second ball is coming, marvin says something along the lines of "there's a...there's a what, what's happening - he's not looking". also, each character reacts in their own unique way. i love cordelia in particular because when jason looks over, she waves first before pointing to the ball

1:21:18 ("the baseball game") this is similar to the previous, i love focusing on what each character says.

cordelia: you're kinda choking up, buddy (motioning to the way jason holds his bat)

charlotte: next inning, jason, next inning

mendel: get your head in the game, think about the footwork a little bit

marvin: it's alright buddy, you'll get 'em next time

trina: you have eight more innings, my love!

1:22:40 ("the baseball game") cordelia + charlotte realize who whizzer is and are shocked, and then quickly try to appear nonchalant about it (1:22:50 you can see charlotte rest a hand on both cordelia and marvin's knees before all three adjust in their seats and separate)

1:23:16 (during "the baseball game") the lesbians nod encouragingly at marvin after whizzer asks "is he still queer?" (i absolutely LOVE this detail it's so cute lolol)

1:30:24 ("a day in falsettoland") cordelia reacts to charlotte's line "...lightbulbs up the ass" by dropping her smile + staring off into the distance in horror

1:30:33 ("a day in falsettoland") following charlotte's line "people overdosed and i saved them", cordelia nods at her + says "yeah, you did"

1:31:06 ("a day in falsettoland") charlotte laughs in shock when cordelia says "...and i save chicken fat"

1:35:25 ("everyone hates his parents") following trina's line "you have paintings of dicks/don't talk to me about taste", she + marvin have the following interaction:

marvin, smug: those are french

trina, exasperated: really?

1:43:15 ("something bad is happening") charlotte holds a copy of JAMA aka the "Journal of the American Medical Association". i'm unsure the larger magazine is

1:50:55 ("days like this") prior to the song beginning, whizzer says either "marvin" or "mornin'" to marvin

1:52:45 ("days like this") marvin turns and says something to whizzer (i can't figure it out and its KILLING ME) as mendel sings "go ahead, be good and pissed/how can i help, says the wiry pyschiatrist"

1:54:00 ("canceling the bar mitzvah") as jason gets up and walks downstage, trina nods in his direction - can't tell if this is her communicating with mendel or marvin, or perhaps both

2:01:30 ("unlikely lovers") following whizzer's line "i love friends that hover", charlotte reaches over and playfully pinches his shoulder

2:09:30 ("jason's bar mitzvah") while trina is singing "probably it's doubly useful/at a time like this", mendel says something akin to "you don't have one/you don't have some?", most likely to jason in regards to the champagne

2:09:38 ("jason's bar mitzvah") after saying cheers, marvin first looks to whizzer and then to jason - presumably because this is jason's first time drinking alcohol. my guess is that he says "good?", asking for jason's opinion on the champagne

2:09:50 ("jason's bar mitzvah") while whizzer sings "please excuse me if i interfere", mendel and marvin have a brief conversation about the cubicle curtain. it's fairly inaudible so i'm not sure of the exact wording

2:12:00 ("jason's bar mitzvah") as marvin is fixing jason's tie, he whispers to him "relax, relax". while the cast sings "like marvin", marvin continues speaking to jason by saying "is that so hard?"

feel free to reblog and add any i've missed! i tried to include those i discovered on my own/ones i haven't yet seen talked about

#falsettos #falsettos proshot #falsettos facts #falsettos analysis #i have too much time on my hands #whizzer brown #andrew rannells #trina falsettos #whizzer falsettos #mendel weisenbachfeld

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catboymoses · 7 months

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I really love the blocking of "This Had Better Come to a Stop" in the OBC version. It really shows everyone teaming up against Marvin in a way that I mostly missed in the revival.

The question is, "Who is responsible?" Before this song most of the blame for the dysfunction in the family has fallen on Trina and Whizzer, but at the end everyone finally realizes that Marvin is the problem.

Mendel, who Marvin relies on for reassurance, hears things from Trina's point of view and turns against him. Trina and Whizzer talk to each other and bond over how shitty Marvin is to them, and Trina reassures Whizzer that Marvin's behavior isn't his fault. Jason sees that all of his favorite adults are angry at Marvin, and starts blaming him too. Everyone comes together to collectively withhold their love from him because they can't stand his behavior anymore, so he throws a fit and burns every bridge he can. Idk I think it just adds more depth to the chess game and Marvin hits Trina than I originally realized.

Feel free to add anything I missed!! I just love this scene so muchhh

#''he's like a baby who's denied'' my favorite line #falsettos #falsettos obc #marvin falsettos #whizzer brown #mendel weisenbachfeld #marvin trilogy #in trousers #trina falsettos #falsettos analysis

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djdoezntexizt · 20 days

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my plans for more falsettos analysis:

- the block theory

- how whizzer knew he was going to die by Jason's batmitzfa and how William Finn made me cry with his cleverness in lyricism regarding whizzer in the end of act 2

- mendel, how he loves, and his full effect on jason and how he loves

- why I hate Mendel, includes why I HATE THAT TRINA SETTLED FOR HIM.

- whizzer and trina before and during act 1 and how they "kept eachother sane" for lack of better words

- how marvin in "in trousers" directly correlates and explains act 1 Marvin and his journey through love

and maybe more when I think of them

#falsettos #falsettos analysis #falsettos revival #in trousers

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gaydavidtennant · 1 year

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anyone wanna discuss marvin's separation anxiety or no...

these are mostly all examples of his desperate need for love, but the separation anxiety seems to stem from that. in march of the falsettos it manifests in marvin forcing whizzer into a housewife role, and disliking him seeing other men. but in falsettoland (including the workshop bc this had better come to an end plays a big part) it is apparent that just not being around whizzer is upsetting to him.

#i think about this a lot #it makes me want to blow up a building #marvin falsettos #whizzvin #falsettos #falsettos analysis

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andyrandyluvr · 2 months

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my favorite line of march of the falsettos (song) is easily “four men marching but never mincing” cause it represents the whole “boys don’t cry men don’t show emotion” thing and especially for marvin and his fragile masculinity WAWAWA I LOVE IT!!!!!!

#falsettos #falsettos analysis #march of the falsettos

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dyke-ulaura · 1 year

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One thing I love about Falsettos is that AIDS is never mentioned. Which makes sense - obviously - as none of the characters would have known, all Charlotte has to say is “something bad” and the audience knows exactly what is happening. We never even see Whizzer’s specific symptoms. There’s the fall during racquetball and the baggy clothes that imply weight loss, but other than that the illness itself doesn’t even really matter. AIDS is this major plot point of the second act and yet rather than detailing the horrors of the disease, falsettos is so focused on the people affected by it.

And it feels so different to media made today about the AIDS crisis. It’s not trauma porn, there’s no gay-bashing, there’s no real homophobia at all in the second act. The main focus is love, the love that Whizzer and Marvin have for each other, the love and support from the rest of the tight knit family. We see Whizzer as a lover, a friend, a father figure. Falsettos does such a good job at establishing Whizzer as a person. He is so much more than just an AIDS victim, and Falsettos is so much more than a show about AIDS

#and this is part of why I hate the whizzer aids jokes #not only are you making fun of a global tragedy #you’re reducing Whizzer’s character (and all the real people he represents) to just another AIDS victim #which misses the point of the show completely #does any of this make sense #im shit at structuring my thoughts #falsettos #marvin falsettos #whizzer brown #falsettos analysis

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toxicyaoibeliever · 2 months

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Idk i dont want to like, make a character or media analysis bc i do not think I'm smart enough for that but i do have thought that feel like i HAVE to share Falsettos is my favorite musical of all time and so of course i seek fanfic and fanart and fanworks in general of this piece of media. And while Modern!AU are not my thing i do like the occasional fanart. BUT

I just do not think that Mendel and Trina would be together in modern times. I do not believe they are the perfect pairing and i do not believe they are this super healthy super cute ship. I'm not even sure Trina truly loves the guy at first

I think, musical-wise, she was attracted to him, maybe she even liked him, but she married him because she felt like she had to.

Its literally spelled for us in Trina's song (reprise)

And for doubts that I've been feeling, I'll ignore them when I can

Loving our lives (Mendel) vs Liking our lives (Trina)

Our hands were tied. My father cried "You'll marry!" We married! (abt Marvin)

It's hard to put my thoughts into words, especially bc English is not my first language. But what i want to say: Trina married the first time because she had to. She was maybe pregnant by then or had lost her virginity or something. Then, she was a single Jewish wife in 1788. Can you imagine how hard that probably was? not only that but her ex-husband is also gay. So the second time she also had to marry. She was raised to want the perfect life

She was raised to want this. And so, when another man appeared, who wanted her despite being divorced, already having a child, and having STDs, why would she say no? Even if she didn't quite love him, even if she wasn't sure about the marriage, she knew chances like this would be hard to get again. So she left her feelings aside and said yes. What other choice did she have?

And sure, i do believe she learned to love Mendel. Maybe not the same way, i do think Mendel will always love her more, but i think she learned to be happy with what she got.

But i don't think is fair. I think in modern times she would either not have married Marvin, and if she had then i don't think she would have married Mendel, even less that quickly

I like to imagine modern Trina being happy single. Being a working woman, having friends she could confide with, being content with herself, and taking her time. And having good sex. Because my god, that woman deserves good sex. Not even in her second marriage did she get the sex she deserved

idk, this was a rant, obvs, and not a super well thought and shit. i just wish people would be more into Trina. I just feel like people think way more abt Marvin and Whizzer and leave the women to be basically their cheerleaders

Don't get me wrong, Whizzer is my fav character but... i just wish the fandom would at least put a little bit more thought into the women on the show

#Falsettos #marvin falsettos #mendel falsettos #whizzer falsettos #jason falsettos #trina falsettos #falsettos analysis #falsettos musical #broadway #broadway musicals #musical theatre #musical analysis #analysis #media analysis #Trina deserved better #me fr

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themidnightwitch44 · 4 months

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This is even more unhinged than my falsettos costume analysis bare with me

The placement and use of and VISIBILITY of actors mics can actually impact the story.

For this I’m using Falsettos and Hadestown to compare/contrast.

(And like… obviously budget and people and a ton of tech factors probably go into this, I’m simply looking at this from a narrative standpoint)

For a lot of big professional productions (like Broadway), the actors personal mics (I’m gonna call them body mics) are in their hair. There’s a few moments in the Falsettos pro shot (I think specifically in act 2?) where you can see them. But like… I only saw them because I was curious about WHERE their mics were placed.

On the other hand, everyone’s mics in Hadestown are SUPER obvious. Like… high school level production obvious. And sure, it could be a budget thing, but I genuinely doubt it.

I genuinely think that in Hadestown, SEEING the mics makes sense, because we KNOW it’s a story.

We are TOLD that it’s a story.

And what’s a good way to show that other than to not hid mics?

And on the other hand in falsettos, everyone’s mics are hidden because one (1), common practice, and two (2), we’re not as much watching a story play out in front of us like Hadestown, watching an intentionally replayed tale, but we’re watching lives, we’re watching people LIVE

#falsettos #falsettos revival #falsettos musical #Hadestown #hadestown analysis #falsettos analysis #would this have made sense without falsettos? yes #am I taking it out? no #am i sleep deprived? yes #no sane person writes like this #this is probably incomprehensible

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sunachilles · 2 years

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what if I killed someone.

[ID: a screenshot from the website genius lyrics, showing lyrics to “Jason’s Bar Mitzvah” from Falsettos. The word “photo” is highlighted, and the annotation below it reads,

“In the PBS recording, Whizzer says “No!” at the prospect of taking a photo, and looks uncomfortable doing so, and this is a really heartbreaking moment because he doesn’t want to be remembered this way – sick and dying – or to have his appearance at that point captured in a photo, which is understandable for anyone in that situation, but especially for him since he has clearly established that he values appearance. At the same time, this is one of his last moments alive, since he dies at the end of the song, and so this is the absolute last possible photo they can have of him while he’s alive.

The recording also shows Jason saying “cheese” awkwardly throughout the taking of the photo, which reminds us that, however mature or smart Jason is, he is still a kid, watching someone he cares about die, unsure of how to handle the situation or the feelings it evokes.” /end]

#again lmk if I did the id wrong lmfao #i noticed his ‘no!’ but never thought abt him not wanting to be remembered like that. GOD.#I’m killing everyone who’s ever made jokes abt his death lol #falsettos #analysis #idk why I keep going to genius lyrics just to read an annotation I haven’t previously read #it never ends well bro.#falsettos analysis

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falsenettleland · 1 year

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just thinking about trindel and whizzvin’s respective workout scenes and costumes…

the black and white contrast + the slightly different shades of teal. then the pink and purple in their outfits being the exact same !!

the part where trina and mendel exercise in a day in falsettoland shows how they deal with issues, or rather, “work it out”

the black in trina’s outfit matches her negative view and stormy emotions. mendel, on the other hand, tries to keep a positive attitude, which matches his brighter colors.

despite these differences, they are still very much in sync physically, like how their outfits are. they function harmoniously as a pair on the outside. their workout is not disrupted, but the verbal conflict they have is not resolved.

when trina tries to “work it out” by herself, her inner turmoil does not decrease. rather, ruminating on the subject leads to further frustration.

when trina and mendel “work it out” together, her frustrations are not resolved, either. they practice the same workout routine, much how they’ve practiced this same conversation that involves mendel telling trina to drop the subject (since the topic frustrates mendel himself, too, because he doesn’t want trina to be so worked up about her ex)

whizzer wearing all-white tight shirt and shorts, while marvin has a very colorful and loose outfit. but their wristbands and socks compliment each other’s outfits. whizzer has a red wristband and socks with color, and marvin is wearing a white wristband and white socks.

marvin and whizzer’s respective wristbands don’t fit in with their outfits when they are alone. however, they make sense when they are together. like their outfits, whizzer and marvin and not complete when they are not together.

whizzer’s outfit showcases his confidence, attention to how he dresses, and athleticism (to have a designated outfit for working out that’s like that, and to have muscles like that). There’s are all conventionally attractive traits.

marvin’s outfit conveys his disinterest in both sports and fashion. he opts for more baggy clothing, which hides more. marvin can’t display the confidence that whizzer can.

the game is a metaphor for their relationship. not only do they have contrasting outfits, but they also have contrasting ways they play, which says things about their relationship. whizzer is more confident and experienced than marvin is when playing. sex and games are compared by whizzer in the song, so it can be inferred this game is a metaphor for their love life, and that this is how it is in their relationship. (“i’ll attack” whizzer says, while looking at marvin’s ass. i love innuendos…)

while trina and mendel’s workout runs smoothly, whizzer and marvin’s game is frequently interrupted by their own banter or difference in skill. however, it’s filled with laughter and fun. they love spending time together.

#this post was supposed to be just about their outfits but it got out of hand…#falsettos #trindel #whizzvin #falsettos analysis #falsettos pics #from falsenettleland

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human837 · 10 months

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'Hate me or need me

Just make sure you feed me'

is such an amazing, meaningful, deep line.

WHY did they not use it in the revival?!

#falsettos #march of the falsettos #falsettoland #in trousers #the marvin trilogy #william finn #andrew rannells #cborle #jason falsettos #marvin falsettos #whizzer brown #musicals #falsettos 2016 #falsettos analysis #Spotify

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cartridgeconverter · 2 years

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thought @sunachilles might find this interesting :)

#falsettos #falsettos analysis

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catboymoses · 2 months

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what does round tables square tables mean? :0 I know the lyric it’s referring to but I never Got It

Round tables! Square tables! Please don’t do this He’s no jerk! It’s just that-- It took-- Please don’t do this --work!

The fight specifically being about table shape is so forgettable and irrelevant it was scrapped immediately after this version. This lyric highlights how they're not fighting over anything important, they're fighting because they don't know how else to process a decade's worth of resentment. (Mendel's fault, hes literally telling them to bottle it up.)

Before the second half of Falsettoland, the men spend all of their energy fighting amongst themselves over petty things. Then, at the end of March of the Falsettos, Trina is given a chance to "hide in their world" by Mendel. She marries him, tries to resemble him in all important ways, and takes on his costuming elements like camouflage. This means she gets sucked into the bickering too, and this becomes her new outlet for her resentment towards Marvin as she can't withhold her love from him any more. In March of the Falsettos most of the conflict was between Marvin and Mendel, but in Falsettoland it shifts to be between Marvin and Trina. What I love is that their relationship can't truly be repaired until external circumstances force them to admit how much they care about each other forgive each other.

hope i answered ur question right and thanks for the ask! <3

#asks #falsettoland #falsettos #falsettos obc #falsettos 2016 #round tables square tables #trinamarvin #falsettos analysis

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djdoezntexizt · 19 days

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MENDEL AND HIS BEHAVIORS [ACT 1]

Note: This is going from the original script because that’s all I have on my laptop. I also did not proofread.

In the beginning of act 1, Mendel raises the question, “What do they do for love?” which, in many ways, is answered throughout the musical. However, Mendel’s ways of finding “love” and gaining a family are questionable.

Mendel had only heard about Trina through his patient Marvin, since she was his ex-wife at the time, and eventually had her as a patient as well. During the therapy session of “Love is Blind,” we start to see Mendel as a character, or at least what he shows now. He starts saying how lovely she is while she’s telling him about her husband giving her STD’s. I feel like that alone says enough, but when she gets to talking about Jason, he seemingly approves of Jason saying Marvin isn’t his dad and he’s a prick. He even ends the song saying how he’s never married and how “work is his passion,” but after his first meeting with Trina, he says he ‘admires’ her.

“Marvin at the Psychiatrist” is the first song that we see deeper into Mendel’s true intentions. He spends part 1 of the song making sure that Marvin loves Whizzer, almost making sure it’s not just some fling, so that he can get to Trina. Mendel, knowing about psychology and the inner workings of the brain, uses gaslighting and manipulates his words in a way to be controlling and control someone’s thoughts. In part 1, he uses pointed questions that make Marvin think more about whizzer and his feelings for him rather than his family problems, talking about it at psychiatry almost making him feel like it’s more important than his family problems he more than likely needed to talk about.

In part 2, we get a look into Marvin’s perverted intentions with Trina, starting the part with how her “meager glories” and “tragic stories” move him in unreported ways, and if you’ve ever watched the musical, you’d see what he means by that. He follows up how she’s a very good and wonderful woman, and even asks Marvin if he minds that Trina came to speak of Jason. This already sets off red flags, since doctor-patient confidentiality laws had already been in effect for at least 5 years at this point, and knowing it’s set in New York, these laws had to have been upheld well there. He even mentions he hopes Jason continues to act out and misbehave, more than likely he wanted to use Jason as a tool to continue talking to Trina and getting closer to her, and that there are a few more things he wants to ‘explore’ about her. He asks about basic things at first, if she was vicious, if she beat Jason, if she was faithful, but these questions start going south quickly. Marvin just saying the word ‘breast’ makes him go out of control, and he even asks Mendel what’s wrong with him. In response, Mendel asks Marvin if Trina sleeps nude. After his little outburst over the word breast. Okay buddy. He asks if she wears a negligee, and even sniffs a scarf she left behind, Marvin catching him. This song is where we see the most of Mendel’s personality, and even though everyone’s a little messy in act 1, he’s just outright creepy.

In ‘This Had Better Come to a Stop,” the family and the little bit of sanity holding it together finally starts to crumble, going downhill as Marvin and Whizzer get in yet another argument. Mendel, being who he is, assures her it’s not her fault and it’s through anyways. Trina, frustrated and seeking for answers as any woman with a gay ex-husband in the late 70s would, asks who’s responsible, and Mendel just says not to ask him questions and how he’s frightened of them, but he’s glad the marriage is coming to a stop and how he’ll help Trina mend herself after this.

From here on, the family starts to fall apart. Trina breaks down, everyone is fighting, and Trina admits that she thinks she likes Mendel, but continues to say how she only wants a man who can love, like, or help her, which Mendel helps her and seems to be obsessed with her, which she probably takes as his love.

By the time Mendel comes to the house for Jason’s therapy, he is fully ‘swooning’ over Trina, for lack of better words. Even just shaking her hand, he says he’ll “probably faint” but he’s probably “doing better-than-the-norm restraint,” which I’m curious what he meant by that and what he must think the “norm restraint” is, since he’s LITERALLY JUST FUCKING SHAKING HER HAND IT ISN’T THAT HOT OR BOTHERING WHAT THE HELL. By the time he meets Jason, he admits he looks miserable and appreciates his uninspired attitude (seen in the sage cues/notes). Through the whole therapy session, Mendel doesn’t do anything to help Jason or really heart what he says, simply stopping him and telling him to “just be alright” and try to make the periods of being alright longer and longer. Jason even questions if this is what therapy is, which, spoiler alert, it really isn’t!! Mendel shows up so often that Marvin repeats “why is he always here?” several times throughout the song, showing how Mendel had to have been overstaying his visit, even if he’s giving Jason therapy, that doesn’t mean he should constantly be there enough for Marvin to question his frequency. Jason even realizes Mendel’s feelings towards Trina before anyone else, saying it’s “not his responsibility to ask” about Mendel and his intentions with Trina.

Mendel is now proposing to Trina, and one of the first things he says is that she’s “never near [him] enough to tell if [he’s] delightful or not.” If he’s PROPOSING to her, why would she not be close enough to tell if he’s delightful or whether he’s not. On top of how inappropriate of a relationship this is to have with your client, but he continues to go on in the marriage proposal, saying “I crave your wrist, I praise your thigh… I love your eyes, I love your face… Don’t touch your hair you’re perfect.” She then starts to cry, and Mendel probably assumes it’s out of joy, but you need to understand how confusing and overwhelming this must have been for Trina. She had started to break down and her family has been falling apart bit by bit. She gave into the idea, but most likely does not truly love him, only settling over him to take some control back in her life after her breakdown.

Tight knit family reprise, oh how I love you. Mendel says how his “acts of theft are incredibly perverse,” acts of theft being him ‘stealing’ Marvin’s family. Mendel mentions how his perverse actions are embarrassing, but he’s got a family now, even if he feels guilt or annoyance for his previous actions, which he probably doesn’t because Mendel is a P.O.S. Mendel says how he has power now, and Mervin retaliates calling him King of the Losers. That isn’t relevant I just think Marvin popped off a little there. Marvin and Mendel then go on to say how they’re “needy and wanting… greedy as swine,” which is reflected both in their actions and words. Mendel went and stole the family from Marvin because he saw the weakness and issues in the family and took his opportunity, even saying at the end how he got it all, while Marvin has always just wanted it all.

March of the Falsettos is the first time Mendel says something useful in my opinion. Jason asks if his father being gay means that he’s “a fairy,” which also is terminology for being gay. Mendel replies saying it’s a stupid theory, basically assuring Jason that just because his father is gay, doesn’t mean it’s genetic, something that Jason has wondered since the beginning of act 1.

Entering Trina and more of her messy feelings about Mendel. Trina’s song (Reprise) originally starts with Trina in Mendel’s clothes, something that I find an interesting detain in this section. We have seen that Trina has had doubts about this entire situation with Mendel, especially with how odd of a situation it really is. She’s trying to push her way through it and make her own decisions, which ultimately ended in her doubts with settling down with Mendel. She says, “As for doubts that I’ve been feeling, I’ll ignore them when I can.” Even after Mendel and Trina are planning to get married, she still has doubts about her decisions deciding to be with him but chooses to just ignore them and go with the decision she made to “try and get the things [she] need[s].” She’ll just fight Marvin and beat the odds by ‘having good sex,’ as if she believes that’s what will get her this happiness in her marriage with Mendel. Later, we find out that part of their life isn’t even very active, but by then she had gotten used to him and found some feeling for him. This will be discussed later in act 2.

In “Making a Home,” they finally start to make a family and a home. In the set of the revival, this is where new objects other than the block pieces are introduced for the home other than in breaking down. We see flowers, books, pillows, and more as their home starts to repair and heal from the damage caused by Marvin before. That’s something I really enjoyed about the revival set design and one of my favorite pieces of symbolism within the set. I’ll be geeking about that in another essay though.

They start with saying they want to fill the space and set the tone for a home and what it should feel like. I feel like this is when Mendel starts to change some, make himself seem lovely enough to be with and love. This also follows the path of manipulation I’ll discuss after act 1 and act 2. He mentions how he becomes a happy wife, but Trina follows up with how he decides the role for her to assume. More than likely she’s the one who decided for him to do this, but also could be manipulation tactic. Most of the song is just Mendel and Trina talking about their home and making it. Not long after Whizzer enters, while Mendel says “Loving our – lives,” Trina only said she liked her life. Not once in the musical so far has said she has loved Mendel.

By Marvin Hits Trina, Trina has gotten used to the idea of being with Mendel, and he becomes a somewhat decent character. Trina says how Mendel isn’t a maniac, how he’s sweet, and how he’s warm. Next, she mentions how he loves her. Yet again an instance of Trina not even loving him, but mentioning that she’s loved, which probably only matters to her due to the events of her last marriage. Marvin acts out so bad even Mendel says Marvin acts “untrained” and how he’s “ashamed,” as Jason watches. This makes Jason’s mind see Mendel as good, since he’s standing up for Trina with no question.

I feel like having a family changes Mendel to be more loving than lustful, and I wholeheartedly believe the end of act 1 is their lovey-dovey “honeymoon stage.” In “I Never Wanted to Love You,” he admits to Trina that he didn’t mean to love her as much as he did and says again how he loves her and loves their family.

The only thing to discuss in “Father to Son” about Mendel is how he changed Jason’s view of love, which is further discussed in act 2 and I already have a smaller post about.

#falsettos #falsettoland #march of the falsettos #trina falsettos #mendel weisenbachfeld #marvin falsettos #jason falsettos #falsettos analysis #falsettos musical

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