Funny Stage Happenings

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Here is a topic for discussion to which all stage actors can relate at one time or another. What is the funniest unscripted thing that ever happened to you while acting on stage? The funniest thing to happened to me was while playing a loveable and extremely outgoing character by the name of "Ralph" in a play called "To Tie the Knot, or Not" (written by a local playwrite). Ralph, a lowly plumber, whose son was about to marry into a very wealthy Doctor's family, was trying to impress the bride's parents with his willingness to fix any plumbing problems they might ever have. The Doctor revealed that, as a matter of fact, they were experiencing a leak under their kitchen sink even now. "Well, I just happened to have my monkey wrench with me for just such emergencies," says Ralph. I reached into my back pocket to pull out the rather heavy wrench, but it would not come out. It had gotten tangled in the lining of my back pocket and no amount of pulling would dislodge it. After the third tug the audience sensed that this was not part of the show. Immediately the uncomfortable laughter began, followed by a roar of laughter from the audience which lasted about 3 minutes. When I finally managed to dislodge the wrench (and tearing the lining in the effort), I also found that it was a real effort to speak my next line. Trying to hold back my own laughter, as well as seeing the other actors trying to hold theirs, I found that my voice had jumped an octave in range and sounded like a woman, which caused even more laughter from everyone. Although it was very embarrassing to me, people said that it was one of the most enjoyable evenings of their lives. And, after all, isn't that what it's all about?