Piangi's Dwarf?

[Night feather]

As the most of you probably have noticed there is this dwarf running after Piangi on the stage...

And I really can't figure out whatever the purpose is for that, it actually seems quite dumb...

Anyone got a reasonable explanation for that? Because I don't...

[The Khanum]

Maybe they got in trouble with the ACLU for not being racially...or perhaps vertically...diverse. ::Shrugs:: I honestly have no idea...but he's highly amusing anyways!

YAY for the dwarf!

~Erik is my Hero

[The Phantom]

We don't want people talking in cool talk, because it makes posts unreadable. But on the discussion of the short guy, I think its just Piangi's side kick or something that helps him with his part. I don't really know, lol.

[Night feather]

Well he's not singing for the guy because at the masquerade the dwarf is backstage tryign to crawl under some womans skirts...

I'm still puzzled

[Luciana]

I just think he was there to make it more... dwarf friendly? I mean, there was no major point to him, except he made me laugh like crazy for some reason. I actually liked him, he was one of my favorite silent characters.

[The_Persian]

I dont think he really had a point.... but he cracks me up so much when Carlotta is singing TOM! he looks at her and gives her a dirty look... it's so funny. Well, i think it is anyway...

[Ataraxia]

Yeah, the first time I noticed the lil dude, I started laughing so hard. It was really funny, especially since my brother seems to love lil dudes like him. (He wants to own an oompa loompa -- off topic.) But yeah, he was great, also one of my favorite silent characters too.

[Reza Khan]

Originally posted by Ataraxia
(He wants to own an oompa loompa -- off topic.)
Haha, the little guy reminded me of an Oompa Loompa. :0

I don't think there was a point to him. My guess is that he's Piangi's personal assistant. Maybe it's a childhood friend or something, either way, he was rather entertaining. :)

Elizabeth

[The_Persian]

I wonder why they paid money to hire him though... I mean, he is not in Leroux book or in Kays, he is not eve in the ALW version.... so why did they put him in?? ::wonders:: He is really funny though...:D:D

[phantoms_nemo]

I find him as comic relief for the story.

[Why So Silent]

I actually have a good reply for this XD The romanticism era was all based on the exotic and the strange, different, etc, like things from other countries. Also, the gothic era focused on the "imperfect pearl" and that also had lots of focus on the different/strange/new. ::points to Piangi's mini-mi:: like him.
Take that, lit and history teacher!
Toodles
Why So Silent

[King Kovifor]

Originally posted by The Phantom
I think its just Piangi's side kick or something that helps him with his part. I don't really know, lol.
I so agree. He's halarious but it's just a side kick type of guy.

[Night feather]

You know what Kat? I think that you have a hold of something that sounds realistic, but maybe Joel Schumaker jsut thought it was funny, somehow he dosn't seem to be the kind of guy who throws himself into the deeper meaning of why he should have a dwarf in his movie.

[masquerade_dancer]

I was told that the dwarf was there just for the comedy. But I definately agree with The_Persian when Carlotta is singing Think of Me and the Dwarf gives her the look. I laughed so flippin' hard!

[Opera Ghost]

^ I agree :D When Carlotta sings a really high shrill note, the dwarf guy's eyebrows go right up, then straight down again when the note changes.

I don't think he sings himself though - he mimes Piangi.

[Why So Silent]

Originally posted by Night feather
You know what Kat? I think that you have a hold of something that sounds realistic, but maybe Joel Schumaker jsut thought it was funny, somehow he dosn't seem to be the kind of guy who throws himself into the deeper meaning of why he should have a dwarf in his movie.

I guess you're right about Joel Schumaker putting the dwarf in there for a laugh...just seems kinda sad a director would just add something for kicks, ya know? ::shrug:: But I guess I'm just a detail-oriented person.
Toodles
Kat

[littlelotte88]

I think that the dwarf could have been an understudy for Piangi. In Hannibal, when Piangi sings, "...threatened by Roma's far-reaching grasp...", the dwarf is doing the same thing he is, and he is dressed identically, too. Just a thought, since understudies are sometimes used extensively in theatre. :cd9:

[Luciana]

He could be an understudy. I don't know. Maybe, since Piangi was an Opera Star, the dwarf was like Carlotta's doggy for Piangi. He was his favorite companion, or something like that. By having the lead, I guess they were intitled to bring one living thing to set. Maybe that's his friend he brought with him. I'm just guessing and wondering about all of the possibilities.

[Beneath the Opera]

O.K. It is a superstistion. If you touch a huunchbsck, or dwarf, or anything like that, you would have a great Opera that night. If you notuce, the dwarf really only followed him around in the IL MUTO Opera. Not Hannibal or Don juan Triumphant! He wanted it to look funnier, and he wanter really good luck for that Opera.

[LittleLotte**]

I think I missed the dwarf...what part does he appear in? He sounds really funny nonetheless.

[Beneath the Opera]

As I told you, it was superstition. There was a thread like this on Phantom of the Opera.com (http://www.phantomoftheopera.com). It was for luck, and to make Il Muto funnier.

[Night feather]

Really I must object the dwarf was in Don Juan Triumphant as well. But it was an interesting explanation Zach, I've never heard of it, the superstition of showbusiness.

[Christine's Shadow]

go midget piangi!!! he's more of a comnic relief to the story. Just something really random.

[IamErik771]

Originally posted by Night feather
Really I must object the dwarf was in Don Juan Triumphant as well. But it was an interesting explanation Zach, I've never heard of it, the superstition of showbusiness.
Yes, I never knew about that either! And the dwarf was also in the Hannibal rehearsal as well; he just wasn't needed in the "Think of Me" scene with Christine. And I think he was also seen in "Masquerade," when it showed the stagehands' party behind the scenes. :D

[Erik]

Hehehe! They looked like they were having fun in that scene...

Yes, Zack, your explination is a good one. I've heard that before actually, so it was my opinion anyway...

OK, pointless post, but I felt the need to say something.

[Phantompherak12]

Well he might be singing for Piangi, but maybe it is only in the Think of Me production. Because in Daun Juan Triaumfant he is there but he isn't singing. :confused:

[Vivian]

Yea, I agree with Beanteaththeopera. The theater world is very supertitious. In exemplum, it is forbidden to say Othello (believe it was Othello o.O) backstage because it is bad luck; also, before going on stage, everyone must touch a horseshoe, etc.

xD

------------------------------EDIT----------------------------
I just saw the horror rentition of Gaston Leroux's novel, and according to the plot of the movie, Erik sells his soul to Satan to be known and loved for his music, but Satan destroys Erik's face so he would ONLY be loved for his music. Anyway, the short of it is that Satan in the movie is personified by... a DWARF! So perhaps they thought it might be interesting to have the dwarf be part of the cast.



-V-

[IamErik771]

Originally posted by Vivian
Yea, I agree with Beanteaththeopera. The theater world is very supertitious. In exemplum, it is forbidden to say Othello (believe it was Othello o.O) backstage because it is bad luck; also, before going on stage, everyone must touch a horseshoe, etc.

Actually, it's Macbeth. I've yet to meet one theatre company that doesn't hold to that superstition. On one online quiz, there was a question: "Which play is considered to be unlucky, and is rarely mentioned by name? A) Romeo and Juliet, B) The Phantom of the Opera (:D) or C) Macbeth?

[Night feather]

::falls down from chair from laughing:: Og god I came to think of Blackadder when that was written James. "You must not name the scottish play"

"What Macbeth?!

"Aahhhhh. Hot potato, off his drawers, Puck will make amends. Aaahh" ::tweaks nose::

hahhahha... Okay I guess if you havn't seen blackadder the third, this don't make much sense to you.

[Vivian]

Yah, I realized after I had written my comment that I wrote down the wrong Shakespearean play xD.

-V-

[Phantompherak12]

I think that the Drawf might also just IDOL Piangi. I mean if he follows him around and stuff. But why is he signing in Think of Me and not in Don Juan Triuphant?????

[Black Ribbon]

I love the little dwarf! He's so cute, and kind of.....*pauses thinking of dwarf in Masqurade* um, I'll skip that. I think that it was funny that they put him in the movie.

[Melody0798]

I have no idea what the dwarf is for, but he makes me happy! lol, he just makes me laugh, a random dwarf, I mean, common, what's funnier then that?

[AAW0487]

I'm not really sure what part the dwarf was for, because you never hear about him except in the movie. However I think he's just a sidekick, but a very highly amusing one. He seems to spy and watch over situations and what not. Go dwarf! He is pretty amusing!

[Minoru Inoue]

Originally posted by IamErik771
Actually, it's Macbeth. I've yet to meet one theatre company that doesn't hold to that superstition. On one online quiz, there was a question: "Which play is considered to be unlucky, and is rarely mentioned by name? A) Romeo and Juliet, B) The Phantom of the Opera (:D) or C) Macbeth?

Yeah, and it makes things rough for me because my favorite Shakespeare play is Macbeth. You know Act V Scene I when Lady Macbeth goes crazy? :D Ohhhhh, I love doing that scene. Love love love. But I can't mention how I totally kick butt in that play to my theatre friends because they always smack me and give me dirty looks every time I mention the play.

And *glomp* to the person who mentioned Blackadder~! I thought I was the only person left on this earth who knew about Blackadder. <3~ makes me... soohappy...

[Vivian]

Ohh! I thought I was the only one who loved when Lady Macbeth lost her mind!

I can quote it >.O~!

xD

-V-

[Minoru Inoue]

<3 ^_^ I have it memorized, including three different renditions of it that I have performed. (Whooo, I feel so... professional... and snobby. *nod* Very snobby. ^^;; ) I saw this one version performed by a theatre company that was AWESOME and the Lady Macbeth did suuuuuuuch a good job. @_@ It was like... wow.

Oh! ON topic... uhhh... I actually wrote off the dwarf as the casting director wanting to add a modern flare to get more audience. Dr. Evil's Minime... yah know? I just figured they added a Piangi Minime to attract a younger/less-informed audience. *shrug*

[MystMoonstruck]

Actually, the use of a dwarf to mimic/undermine a major male role goes back to the Greek theater. There, the dwarf actor would actually bash the "hero" with an air-filled animal bladder. I think it had to do with the concept of hubris, where a mortal shouldn't think too highly of himself or the gods might be jealous or vengeful. Having a dwarf follow him around lampooning him got laughs from the audience and ensured that the lead actor wasn't of too-heroic proportions.

Also, many royal courts and entertainment groups featured "little people", who have always had a place of honor as court jesters, entertainers and companions.

I think the operas are just recalling the Greek stage tradition. A pompous baritone shadowed by a dwarf is much more humorous than solo baritone. Throughout past and present theater, comic relief has stayed a tradition, whether it's a drama or a comedy.

I also agree about hunchbacks and others being considered a source of luck to many people.

By the way: I'm a Blackadder fan from long, long ago! There are many fans out there! Hugh Laurie is MUCH better as the thick-as-a-whale-omelet prince than "House"! Rowan Atkinson is brilliant--as Blackadder or Mr. Bean! But, as servant to the prince, with Baldric at his side... YES!

[Hidden Away]

Interest but a bit of a disturbance...in the movie version only...I didn't see a dwarf in the Vegas version, but it was still odd in the movie...yeah...*twitch* see!!!! I have one word before I leave!:

AKWARD!!!!

[angelgirl]

I think he was just there for comic relief. And I also thought it was really funny when Carlotta's singing TOM and his eyebrows go up like that.
A.G.

[Hidden Away]

If he was there for such a reason, I sadly don't see him so funny. He's great for adding some texture or something to Piangi, but you know. ;)

Was it used for comic relief then as well? I don't really see it funny. He wasn't in the movie very much as well.

[The Countess]

The dwarf...remains a mystery to me. Especially since it's not the only dwarf in the Phantom movies. Dario Argento's Phantom and Robert Enguland's Phantom both feature dwarves (maybe even the same one). So why do they have these dwarves in the movies? I'm not completly sure. I guess it's just what the directors wanted. Maybe it was supposed to be (not so funny) comic relief, as Patrica said. Honestly, I don't really care and I sure as hell don't want to know why crazy Joel decided to put a dwarf in his movie.