Happy Hour #77: The Podcast Hour - ‘Bye Bye Birdie’

Did you hear about Hugo and Kim getting pinned? We simply can’t believe it to be honest, so that’s why we’re pulling apart all things ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ this week! From the stage musical, to the film, to the live event that never happened this show has had a full life! The boys talk all about where this show stands in the Musical Theatre Timeline, debate the representation of teens, women and rock and roll in the show and try to work out exactly what Ann margaret was meaning when she sang ‘Bye Bye Birhee.’ Let’s make this happen!

Bye Bye Birdie (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Amazon / iTunes / Spotify 

If you’re brand new to Bye Bye Birdie then the movie is a great place to start! Although the plot deviates from the stage musical you get a good sense of it! Plus, Ann Margaret! 

What is a Birhee? Does Ann Margaret know something we don’t? 

If you can’t be bothered watching the film, someone you may know has digested it for you!

What do you think about giving musicals with outdated books rewrites? Should it be directorially focussed like Oklahoma? Or should they get the Harvey Fierstein treatment and get down and dirty with the text? Let us know on Reddit!

More Ann Margaret fun times. If you’d have enough of Liza trying to turn off a lamp, it’s time to move on. Let’s make this happen!

Mad Men tried their hand at parodying the opening to the movie, and their cast and crew had a try too. Should we get Birhee-ing (standing in front of a blue backdrop and singing) to be next sensation?

For the final Ann Margaret reference of the evening we look to everyone’s favourite prehistoric family, The Flintstones with their version: Ann Margrock.

What do you think about the female characters in Bye Bye Birdie? Sound off on Twitter!

And while you’re at it, check out the wonderful Lindsey Ellis talking about representation in Disney movies!

An Olfactory Quiz Question

The original production of this musical tickles all of your senses the moment you enter the lobby. We’re not sure if it had an official smell designer, but let’s be honest, it probably did.

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