Act One, Scene One 

Pg 9 – Skiffle (music genre)

Popular primarily in the 50s and very early 60s in England, "Skiffle" combined folk, country, blues, and--in it's last years--early rock n' roll. There were effectively two types/waves of Skiffle: the earlier form, notable for its handmade instruments (washboards, washtub bass, cigar-box guitars, etc.), which had a sound very similar to the jug bands of America, and a later version which incorporated more electric guitars, drum sets, etc., which had a sound many Americans would likely relate to Country-Rock crossover acts of the early 1960s. 

 

Coming out of the economic devastation of WWII, many young musicians turned to this "home made" sounding music, complete with working class narratives and instrumentation they could cobble together even in poverty. As the war receded from memory and economic conditions improved, the music moved from cigar-box guitars in tiny clubs to electric guitars on the radio. Although rock would soon overtake it, skiffle served as an introduction to musicmaking for tens of thousands of war-impoverished youths in the UK who could never have afforded proper instrumentation. Future members of Led Zeppelin, The Hollies, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones cut their teeth on the style. (http://oldies.about.com/od/folksingers/g/skiffle.htm). Read more on the Britain: April, 1963 and Music pages on this website!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pg 10 – Dangle - “Ecce Homo!”

“Behold the man” -- a somewhat awkwardly used allusion to the words that, according to the Gospel of John, Pilate said when showing Jesus, crowned with thorns, to the crowd. By using this allusion to reference his own appearance, is Dangle comparing himself with a martyred, suffering view of Christ? Or is he mocking his own appearance as disheveled and in a poor state? Or does he simply reach for any classic / Latin phrase he can, and the church tends to be a bountiful resources (especially if we are to assume from this that he is Catholic rather than Church of England). 

 

Pg 10/11 – “Bird in a hand” / Charlie: “I’m gonna have to get in a box of Trill!”

“Bird in a hand” is likely a reference to the popular saying, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” – Charlie, however, in response to all these references to birds, makes his own reference to Trill brand birdseed, perhaps suggesting that he feels all this talk is "for the birds."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pg 11 – Dangle - "Nunc est bibendum!"

“Now is the time to drink” (quote from Roman poet Horace)

 

Pg 11 – Dangle – "Ars amandi"

Most famously from Ovid’s books of the same name -- Roughly, “The Art of Love” – but, to fully understand this, it’s important to note that “the Art…” here acts the same as “The Art of War” (i.e., the Technique, the Artistry, the Mastery, etc.), and “Love” refers primarily to love of a physical/sensual/sexual sense, rather than other types of love [romantic, fraternal, paternal, etc.]). Of course, Pauline mistakes “Amandi” for “Amanda,” thinking Dangle has gotten her name wrong.

Pg 11 – “like a new bucket"

i.e., shiny, new, and with nothing inside / hollow (a not very complimentary reference to her intelligence)

 

Pg 12 (and elsewhere) – Lloyd – "solicitor"

lawyer (though usually specifically for monetary affairs)

 

Pg 12 – Dangle – "Dangle, Berry and Bush"

*sigh* Ok -- here's where we just accept that some of these jokes aren't going to be the most sophisticated. Although there really is Dangleberry shrubery, no doubt this joke (especially considering the character delivering the line is based on the constantly-foot-in-mouth Il Dottore) is referring to "Dangleberry" as the English slang term matching it's American cousin "dingleberry"--i.e., small bits and "berries" of dried excrement dangling from hair on a person's buttocks. I hope, with that context, I don't have to also explain "bush."

 

Pg 12 (and elsewhere) – Dangle – "Tonton Macoutes"

Ok, admittedly, this is really pretty dark, and I'm kind of surprised to find these references mixed up with these other comedic allusions, but: The Tonton Macoutes were a vicious arm of the paramilitary forces running Haiti from the late 50s to the early 70s (and beyond into the 80s, though there were name and structural changes). As they were known for their brutal tactics of rape, murder, and extortion, this joke seems to land about the same as if the show were set today and they claimed he had defended Boko Haram. Basically, if the playwright wanted to choose a bad boogeyman to show just how unscrupulous the character is, this certainly works.  You can read more about the Tonton Macoutes here and see pictures here. (Side note: Yes, there were two different British Bands that took "Tonton Macoutes"  [and "Ton Ton Macoutes"] as their name, but both were established after the events of this play, and neither had famous run-ins with the law). 

 

Pg 12  – Lloyd – "Parkhurst"

Undoubtedly referring to Parkhurst Prison

 

Pg 12 – Charlie – "Do I look like I came down in the last shower?"

Colloquialism -- "do I look like I was born yesterday," "do I look like I just fell off the turnip truck," etc.

 

Pg 12 - Charlie - "queer as a whiskey and Babycham"

Babycham is an English sparkling perry (i.e., pear cider [which I love, which makes me think I'd be a fan]) originally meant to act as an alternative champaigne. The drink premiered in the 50s and grew to immense popularity in the 60s, marketed largely to women. The best I can come up with re: Charlie's line is that, perhaps, a whiskey and Babycham would be seen as analogous to a whiskey sour-- a stereotypically "ladies drink," combined with a stereotypically "man's drink." As such, in Charlie's worldview, men drink whiskey, women drink Babycham, and "queers" drink a cocktail of the two. Again, however, this is simply my best guess (also, yes, I'm aware that "queer" is also a British term for anything odd or strange, but not only was the term being used in England as a derogatory slur against the LGBT community of the time, but this entire conversation is about Charlie discussing the fact that Roscoe was gay.) Meanwhile, for more about Babycham (which, again, sounds totally up my alley -- and Chanukah is coming ... hint hint) check out this great website! - http://www.babycham.com/history

 

Pg 12 – Sausage Rolls

http://britishfood.about.com/od/psrecipes/r/sausagerolls.htm
 

 

Pg 13 – Lloyd "Man! They don’t call you 'Charlie the Duck' for nothing! Tight Man! Tight as!"

"Duck" has been used in British slang for years, primarily as a pet name for a loved-one ... which clearly doesn't make sense in this context. After searching through multiple guides to British slang, the best ideas I've come up with are the following two related possibilities:

A.) The Vocaleyes transcript from the original National Theatre production describes the actor's motions by saying he "ducks and dives like the old pro he is." Thus, as a long-time gangster involved in petty hustles, perhaps it's referring to his ability to "duck" out of situations and responsibilities (especially financial) through fast-talking and social slight-of-hand.

B.) "Tight as a duck's ass" is a well-worn slang phrase for someone who's seen as cheap (a duck, the statement proposes, is waterproof, and thus is "tight," meaning impenetrable ... just like a cheap man's wallet). This meaning seems bolstered by Lloyd's statement "Tight man! Tight as!" during a discussion about Charlie marrying his daughter off quickly so as not to waste the money spent on sausage rolls.

So, whichever the reason (A, B, or a combination), it seems to refer to his reluctance to part with his cash. If anyone has a better lead, please let me know!

 

Pg 13 (and elsewhere) – Dolly – “Some geezer (…) says he’s Roscoe Crabbe’s minder.”

-- GEEZER: unlike the "old man" meaning in the States, in the U.K., this is synonimous with "bloke," or any run-of-the-mill adult male (although there are some sources that also claim it suggests some level of eccentricity, if not age - which would make sense, considering Francis' appearance). 

-- MINDER: bodyguard, especially relating to criminal activites.
Primary sources here and here.

 

Pg 13 – Charlie – “Is he a face? Does he look handy?”

-- FACE: "A face is a good mod, someone with the right clothes, the right haircut..."

-- HANDY: "adept, devious, virile, brutal."
Sources here and here.

 

Pg 13 – Charlie – “Check him out Lloydie, see if he’s tooled up.”

Carrying a weapon. Source.

 

Pg 13 – Dangle – “Oh dear (…) Meno malus felix”  /  
            Charlie – “If all he wants is the cat, he can have it.”

Dangle is referencing the oft-quoted line, often translated as “Peace visits not the guilty mind,” or, more simply, “no rest for the wicked.” Charlie, however, hears “felix,” and likely assumes Dangle is referring to Felix the Cat, an extremely popular animated character (I’m talking Mickey Mouse / Bugs Bunny level fame!) from the silent era who, much like his contemporary Betty Boop, persisted as a prominent staple of pop culture through the 40s and 50s, and still pops up in various pop culture references now and then. Alternatively, "felis" is Latin for "cat," and so Charlie may have mistakenly heard the line, but that seems a tad too educated for Charlie, don't you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pg 14 – Lloyd – “toerag”

A pitiful or despicable person / a beggar (a reference to beggars wrapping rags around their bare feet). Source.

 

Pg 14 – Francis – “I'm glad it ain't yours -- ‘beautiful eyes’ ”

The fact that this phrase was in quotation marks caught my attention. Is he saying "beautiful 'eyes' " as a euphemistic catch for some other plural body parts? Or is it a reference to one of the 1,000 or so songs that refer to beautiful eyes? Disturbingly, I think, it just MAY be a reference to the short-lived but apparently VERY trendy "Beautiful Eyes" competitions that sprouted up in many English market towns and provinces in the late 50s and and early 60s. What's a "Beautiful Eyes" competition you ask? Click here, be sure you have your volume up for the voiceover, and prepare to cringe: Beautiful Eyes Competitions. Honestly, though, doesn't it seem like something Francis would think was a compliment?

 

Pg 14 – Francis – “skinful”

Enough alcohol to get drunk. Source.

 

Pg 14 – Francis - "Majorca"

An island in the Mediterranean, known as a popular (and pricey) tourist destination

 

Pg 15 – Dolly – “…arse from a Bank Holiday”

A "bank holiday" is any major holiday that banks take off -- in other words, in America, this could be Independence Day (bank holiday) vs. Flag Day (not a bank holiday). Why he can't tell his buttocks from a holiday is an entirely different question.

 

Pg 16 - Francis - "Muddy Waters? Robert Johnson? Leadbelly?"

These blues/folk artists were some of the inspirations that led to the skiffle wave. Leadbelly Ledbetter in particular is often cited as one of the driving inspirations, and his songs were popular among skiffle cover bands. Two great videos - a (super short) Leadbelly documentary, and a skiffle cover!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pg 17 – Francis – “…the Shipping Forecast”

Weather and sea conditions report covering the coasts of the British Isles. Produced by the BBC. (still on the air)

 

Pg 18 – Rachel – "I been on the Brixton diet. Four years, regular meals."

Brixton Prison (HMP Brixton) in London 

 

Pg 19 – Francis – “Definitely foreign. I think it might be a Citroen”

Popular French brand of car (esp. known for racing, whether legal or street). Incidentally, Citroen has made Nemesis rims available on their cars, though I haven't found any evidence that this was available in the 1960s, so that's likely a coincidence. Citroen also, of course, means "lemon" and thus is the name of several lemon-flavored liquors,  though due to context I'm leaning toward the first definition. 

 

Pg 20 – Dangle (furious) Post hoc, ergo hic haec hoc! (meaningless)

Literally, "After this, therefore here is this!" As noted, meaningless.

 

Pg 21 – Rachel – “He’s posh but he likes the East End.”

He's got money, but likes hanging out in the poorer, artsier, rougher side of town

 

Pg 21 -  Rachel – “You ain’t always been straight Lloydie.”

By the 1960s, "straight" had two meanings in British slang--to not be "Crooked" (i.e., to not be involved in crime), and to not be "bent" (i.e., to not be a homosexual). The meaning here likely refers to criminal enterprises (due to the previous line about gangsters), although since Rachel is saying that Lloyd used to spend his time in bars with her brother Roscoe, whom we know from other conversations was both gay and a criminal ... it is possible that Rachel is also reminding Lloyd that she knows he's a closeted homosexual (which was itself still illegal, hence the arranged marriage). The first meaning is very clear, and the second is backed up in his "true love" reference to Pankhurst Prison on page 24, so I suppose it's up to actor/director interpretation as to her intention here.

 

Pg 22 – “the house in Debden.”

There are two separate towns, both in County Essex (one in Loughton, one in Uttlesford), named Debden. Assuming it's the one in Uttlesford, the area is known for its beautiful mansions.

 

Pg 22 – “The Cricketer’s Arms” in Brighton

There actually *IS* a "Cricketers" pub that makes food in Brighton--the oldest pub in Brighton, it was established in 1547! http://www.cricketersbrighton.co.uk/. There's also a "Cricketer's Arms" (so matching the full name) that is also a pub w/food and was around in the early 60s, though it's 24 miles away from Brighton, in Eastbourne.

 

Pg 23 – “St. John’s Ambulance”

A trade name used by a number of different organizations dedicated to first aid and community service. Observant nerds (like myself) will note that the St. John's Ambulance logo can be seen on the outside of the TARDIS from the BBC's long-running Doctor Who television program. Here, it may be referring to any one of a number of walk-in clinics, first aid stations, etc.

 

Pg 23 (and elsewhere) – Rachel - “The Old Bill”

The Metropolitian Police Service of London. The Guardian Newspaper and the Metro Police website appear to disagree as to the origins of this nickname -- according to the Police, they are named after King William IV, whereas the Guardian claims the name is from the founding member, William Wilburforce. Either way, it appears to have been fairly common slang.