Over ten years ago (yikes), I was involved in the Pittsfield Theatre Guild's "Silver Celebration," a 25th-anniversary show which consisted of lots of musical numbers from the shows it had put together since 1973. As was traditional during PTG musicals, there was a warm-up song which was sung before each rehearsal - ours was "Harper Valley PTA," a 1960s polemic about the hypocrisy of the sexual morals of a small southern town. During the indictment of the PTA members, the singer includes the lines,
"Well, there's Bobby Taylor sittin' there and seven times he's asked me for a date
Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lot of ice whenever he's away."
After this line, one or more of the various adults in the production would often intone, "What would she use that for?" and the other adults would laugh. Being a perceptive almost-7th grader, I laughed too. However, I had no idea what she would use the ice for, either.
I am mystified because I just remembered this the other day, and upon further reflection, I still don't know what she was using that ice for! Obviously the first line makes sense - he's unfaithful to his wife. I assume the second line is referring to something sexual, but I can't think of any specific act that it could mean that would have been okay to reference (even overtly) in a chart-topper in 1968. Was it just that the general sexual activity going on in Mrs. Taylor's house required a lot of ice when her husband was away? I could have figured that out in 7th grade.
The jokes made by the older cast members definitely implied that they knew exactly what the ice was for, but now that I'm older, I wonder if they really did. Others who may have had experience with adults in the PTG may agree that some of them did so only for the thrill of a power trip, exerting authority over others while not exactly creating a transcendant theatrical experience.
Does anyone have any thoughts about this? What was that dang ice for, anyway?
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7 comments:
Haha. Good story. The only thing I can think of that involves ice and sexuality is the rubbing of nipples with ice cubes. Of course the direct result of this activity it pingage. But I seriously doubt that this is what they were joking about. I'm baffled.
Without the story you told, I would have immediately assumed this line is about the chilling of sparkling wine or champaign that the wife would have used for her romantic houseguests. Your story makes me doubt myself, but I still think I'm right.
Here is my theory: the adult that would say "What's that for?" when first making that statement was being genuine. Other people laughed, probably expecting a joke, so he was embarrassed and pretended it was a joke. Then every time after that it was said, and laughed at, out of the natural human desire to have traditions that bond us with those around us.
Oh wait, I get it. HAHAHAHAHA, ice! You guys will understand someday, don't worry. HAHAHAHA.
Dang it Bradley! As if you needed more of a superiority complex!
I wanted to edit my last post. Here it is again:
Back in the old days when folks didn't own refrigerators, people would deliver ice to homes. Her neighbors wouldn't comment on her ice consumption if the ice man wasn't coming to her house more often. After reading your post, I just assumed that she was banging the ice man, who would make his rounds more often when her husband was away.
All interesting suggestions, but doesn't the fact that we have no consensus prove that it's not an obvious adult inside joke? I'm so retroactively angry at those Theatre Guild people now...
haha! although i, along with braxton, have absolutely no idea what the ice would be for, i will agree with braxton's comments about the integrity of those adult PTG members. you are so very right, i cannot put it better than you did.
p.s. remember Mustang Sally, too? =] ahh, good times.
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