Does anyone think that the melodrama of the actors as well as the musical score when his shirt is torn is a little random and ridiculous?
I suppose the incident symbolizes his being "exposed"---however,I still couldn't help but laugh.
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Yes, especially the music. Same thing at the very beginning, when he's talking to the trainman who let him hitch a ride and the trainman answers Hal's jive by reporting "and the governor is an old sidekick of mine!" BLAAAAAT! go the horns. Ridiculous. Still, I love this movie.
"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"
Yes definatley
shareI agree all the emotions are underlined and highlighted so that we don't miss any of them; no subtle nuances in this play.
But when his shirt is ripped, I see it as not just his character being "exposed", but what everyone on that little landing really wants...and one character's clothing being torn off (partly) begins the true stewing that's taken place in each of them, for different reasons, for different lengths of time.
The man's shirt being ripped off (by a woman, an older one at that) finally brings all the frustrated love and sex to the surface. Faced with the 'skin' of what everyone is secretly thinking and feeling, no one can keep down...whatever they've kept down, and the rest of the play, to me, is about the characters all running about seeking to have the ending they want at any cost, any means.
And so, they get it. Maybe not the one they wanted; maybe the one they didn't think they could deal with...but they get a next, fresh chapter, as opposed to a stagnating, safe but untrue life.