#jackkatherine

[newsiesasvines2]

Kenji: Don’t you have somewhere better to be? Like getting your beauty sleep?

Yaz: I don’t need sleep to be beautiful.

[newsiepedia]

Mod Strings has Opinions: How to Make Jack and Katherine’s Love more Believable

To be honest, I think Jatherine gets a bad rep in the fandom. Sure, it’s far from a healthy relationship, but people shouldn’t feel scared to ship or even feel neutral about a canon pairing. I believe a few minor changes to the direction and organization of the show could turn Jatherine from a forced heterosexual romance to something people can look at and say “Yeah, that’s cute!”

For this experiment, I will be following a few rules. The first is I’m not allowed to add or remove any lines unless they were added or removed in professional productions of Newsies. I also can’t shuffle individual words or phrases to change their meaning- that’s just cheating. However, larger scenes or conversations can be moved to a different part of the play, and of course direction, actor’s choices, staging, and makeup will play the biggest role. Now, without further ado: how to make Jack and Katherine’s romance more believable.

Act 1, Scene 2:

No changes are necessary. Jack and Katherine don’t know each other, so it doesn’t weaken their relationship for Jack to try to sell her a paper by flirting with her or Katherine to turn him down. 

Act 1, Scene 3:

Here’s where we have to make some small changes. During Don’t Come A Knockin’/ I Never Planned On in the productions most people are familiar with, Jack’s first real dialogue with Katherine is him flirting with her even after she says she isn’t comfortable with it. However, the dialogue could also be played as Jack being genuinely curious about her work and Katherine being annoyed at the distraction. 

Additionally, in a Newsies production where Helen Anker played Medda, the songs Don’t Come A Knockin’ and I Never Planned On were separated, with Medda and her showgirls singing the first and Jack and Katherine singing the second. (Newsies Cut Songs) The same could be done in our theoretical performance, with I Never Planned On moved to a scene where Jack knows Katherine a little better.

Act 1, Scene 5:

This scene could be one of the hardest ones to fix. Jack and Katherine have an argument during which they poke fun at things the other can’t help. However, again, this dialogue could be interpreted as closer to a playful banter. As they aren’t supposed to be in love yet, it’s less important to make changes here.

This could also shift their relationship’s arc: instead of being a classic “people who hate each other at first fall in love” story, their romance could be more portrayed as two very different people learning about the others. 

Act 1, Scene 6:

The scene after Katherine first meets the newsies is one of the most important for her and Jack’s relationship- it’s where they first show mutual attraction. This could be amplified during their first dialogue by playing Katherine as more flattered and less annoyed at Jack’s flirtation, and by playing Jack as at least a little more concerned with the strike than a regular beat with the star reporter. 

Between Katherine agreeing to cover the strike and Watch What Happens would be a good place to insert I Never Planned On. If the song is placed here, it sounds more sincere. After all, Jack now actually knows a little about Katherine’s personality now. 

Watch What Happens doesn’t need to be changed a lot- it already furthers Katherine’s arc of learning about the newsies, and she shows attraction to Jack. My only suggested change might be to soften her sharp tone during the line “Plain- spoken, know nothing, skirt-chasing, cocky little son of a-” (Newsies Live script, page 38) to make it seem more like she’s trying to concentrate than that she actually thinks that about Jack. 

Act 2, Scene 3:

Not much to change here. Make Katherine’s tone a little more concerned rather than sarcastic in a faux strong-independent-woman style. Jack doesn’t really talk to her until Watch What Happens (Reprise), so his tone can be kept the same.

Act 2, Scene 4:

My main fix would be to Katherine’s costume and makeup. During the rest of the show, she could wear relatively simple clothes, with few if any costume changes. During this scene, however, she could wear more expensive clothes (due to manipulation from her father). This would make Jack’s later accusation that she sold the newsies out seem less like a wild jump to conclusions. 

As for Jack, his tone when he finds out that Katherine is Pulitzer’s daughter should be a little more concerned than betrayed or angry. 

Act 2, Scene 6:

During this scene, both Jack and Katherine are working under the assumption that the other betrayed them. Counterintuitively, the fix is to play this part up. If their delivery starts out as angry at each other but slowly changes to them being upset that the other doesn’t trust them, it could show that they aren’t the kind of people who would usually pick these sorts of fights- they’re just very stressed. Katherine kissing Jack could then be seen as a way to end the fight, rather than an impulsive decision.

After the kiss, the lines become much calmer, and so should the actors’ delivery. Katherine can still obviously be touchy- she just experienced emotional abuse by her father for being a girl, so she would be defensive. However, her assuming that Jack has bad intentions can be toned down, and Jack’s responses can be delivered as compassionate rather than embarrassed.

Something To Believe In is... not my favorite. In my opinion, portraying Jack and Katherine as each others’ “something to believe in” downplays both their connection to their friends and their own value as people. The cut song Then I See You Again is much more detailed about why they love each other, instead of stating that they do. It puts more emphasis on their relationship as a source of mutual comfort and joy, even without the strife of the strike. (Then I See You Again Lyrics) Besides, I just think the tune is nicer. I think the song should be substituted here.

If the dialogue in Something To Believe In wasn’t cut with the song, it could be portrayed as much more joking. 

Act 2, Scene 7:

By this time, Jack and Katherine are a unit. A team. Make their direction smooth and the pace of their lines together fast, like they know how to work together. I also quite like the idea of Jack and Katherine holding hands or hugging during Once and For All, as it would be a very emotionally charged time for them and they’d need each others’ comfort. 

Act 2, Scene 8:

During the last scene, I think it might be better to downplay Jack and Katherine’s love. After all, they’ve only known each other for the duration of the strike. Therefore, Jack should be more swayed to stay in New York by his fellow newsies than Katherine. That isn’t to say that Katherine doesn’t sway him- if all the steps outlined are taken, Jack and Katherine’s relationship will be significantly cuter and more sincere. Their kiss when Jack decides to stay should not be cut out (although it could be supplemented by a newsie group hug to show both Jack and Katherine’s inclusion in the larger family).

Jack and Katherine got, in my opinion, a raw deal from the show writers. When they could have had a dynamic relationship, they instead got a typical Disney-style enemies to lovers arc that didn’t do justice to either of their characters. However, that doesn’t mean that fans can’t enjoy their relationship.

[broadwayhoran]

Can you imagine Jack and Katherine going out for a night of dancing... and eventually ditching the crowds in favor of a quiet rooftop. They goof off, waltz to the muffled music coming from below them, wish on shooting stars...

Someone pls write a fanfic blurb based off this drawing/idea. I’d literally pass out.

[carryingthesketchbook]

Day 60 9/2/18

[jackscrutchie]

jackcrutchie or jackkatherine

JackCrutchie. ; o ;

[magnusrayne]

Newsies for the fandom ask! (Of course it had to be done)

But of course!! Haha

The first character I first fell in love with: Jack Kelly. Hands down. 
The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Crutchie and Katherine 
The character everyone else loves that I don’t Uhhh…. Les?? 
The character I love that everyone else hates: honestly, I don’t think there is one. 
The character I used to love but don’t any longer: Hm. Nope, I still love all of em. 
The character I would totally smooch: Spot. Cuz he’s cute and smol. Or Katherine because she’s so smart and pretty and shshavhajs 
The character I’d want to be like Davey. 
The character I’d slap: Race probably 
A pairing that I love: Jackcrutchie and JackKatherine 
A pairing that I despise: Javid

[hummellkurt]

jackkatherine replied to your post: hello friends kurtcrawfords wasn’t saved so i...

I WILL KISS YOU

yes really omg its on my hipster blog tho so i'll message you right when i delete it 

[newsiepedia]

Relationship Analysis: Jack and Katherine

Character 1: Jack is the de- facto leader and father figure to the Manhattan newsies. Although he acts cocky and confident, he needs his makeshift family to function.

Character 2: Katherine is a hard-working and honest reporter. Although she comes from a very wealthy background, she doesn’t accept any extra help, choosing instead to side with the poor kids of New York.

All About It:

Jack and Katherine don’t actually like each other that much. When Jack fails to seduce Katherine during Carrying The Banner, he doesn’t act disappointed or insulted when Romeo says “Back to the bench, slugger. You struck out!” Instead, he says a very sarcastic “I’m crushed!” (Newsies Live script, page 5) When Katherine offers to write the story of the strike, Jack immediately says “Hey, what’s the last news story you wrote?” and Kath responds “What’s the last strike you organized?” (Newsies Live script, page 34) Even after they become better friends, Jack discovering that Katherine is Pulitzer’s daughter gets them physically threatening each other. (Newsies Live script, page 65)

Jack doesn’t quite trust Katherine. Although Jack wants to be with Katherine, he’s reluctant to fall for her, singing to himself “I got no use for moonlight/ Or sappy poetry/ Love at first sight’s for suckers” (Newsies Live script, page 22) He’s also ready to believe Kath sold them out as soon as he hears she’s Pulitzer’s daughter, not listening to her reasons or considering that she’s only been helpful so far. (Newsies Live script, page 60)

Jack is attracted to the fact that Katherine doesn’t like him back at first. In the first act of the play, Katherine never reciprocates Jack’s advances- in fact, she outright rejects him. However, these efforts only make Jack more flirty and annoying. (Newsies Live script, pages 21, 36) It’s only after they become more involved with the strike than bantering that he leaves her alone and she starts warming up to him.

Katherine is physically attracted to Jack. In fact, she’s frequently distracted by the thought of him while writing the article about the strike. (Newsies Live script, page 38) Even in their two romantic songs, we don’t get to hear what about his personality she likes. She does seem flattered by his attention, both for her physical looks and her intelligence.

Jack learns to respect Katherine. Jack starts out the show dismissing Katherine as just another rich girl who thinks she knows what she’s talking about. He mocks her job by saying “Oh, shouldn’t you be at the ballet?” (Newsies Live script, page 33) and “You know, I seen a lot of papes in my day and I ain’t never noted no girl reporters writing the hard news.” (Newsies Live script, page 34), and he flirts with her despite her repeated rejections. However, he realizes over the course of the show that Katherine is a hard worker and a valuable ally. He listens to her ideas about the strike and “When he pursues for a second (kiss), she pulls away. He immediately backs off.” (Newsies Live script, page 65) 

Jack is intimidated by Katherine. His respect for her comes with a rather unhealthy dose of fear. After they kiss, he tells her “No, no! I’m not an idiot! Look, I know girls like you don’t wind up with guys like me,” showing that he believes she would manipulate him into thinking she liked him when she didn’t, (Newsies Live script, page 67) and when Katherine talks about taking down her father, he says “Yeah, remind me to stay on your good side.” (Newsies Live script, page 69) He even says out loud to her “I am pretty scared of you.” (Newsies Live script, page 68) This might be for a good reason- on the rooftop, Katherine is very argumentative when Jack is reluctant to get more kids involved with the strike, accusing him of being sexist. (Newsies Live script, page 66) 

Katherine feels sympathy for Jack. “But you’re an artist. You’ve got real talent. You should be inside the newspaper illustrating, not outside hawking it.” (Newsies Live script, page 36) “I’ll see you in the morning. And off the record... good luck.” (Newsies Live script, page 37) 

Katherine looks down on Jack. From the moment they meet, she calls him all sorts of awful things, like a criminal, (Newsies Live script, page 21) a “Plain spoken, know nothing, skirt-chasing, cocky little son of a” and even a dog (along with his fellow newsies). (Newsies Live script, page 38) She calls the strike "entertaining,” diminishing its importance, (Newsies Live script, page 34) mocks Jack’s paintings and dreams of Santa Fe, (Newsies Live script, pages 54, 55) and assumes he’s too dumb to see her worth, even after he’s been working together with her for a while. (Newsies Live script, page 66) Even when he tries to be nice and compliment Davey, she says “Modesty is not a quality I would’ve pinned on you-” quite rude and passive-aggressive. (Newsies Live script, page 36) 

Katherine learns from Jack. Being from a rich background, Kath is fairly naive about what the newsies go through. Jack educates her about that. When he shows her what being in the refuge was like, and what he did to keep the boys safe, she’s horrified- “These drawings... These are drawings of the Refuge, aren’t they? Is this really what it’s like in there? Three boys to a bed, rats everywhere and vermin...” (Newsies Live script, page 65) But that knowledge helps her with the strike- she makes friends with the janitor of the World building, who gives her the keys to the basement. (Newsies Live script, page 69) 

Will it Ship?

YES! Even with their differences, Jack and Katherine can and have learned from each other and become better people for it. Their competitive relationship could bring both of them closer to success and happiness.

NO! This relationship is obviously toxic. Not only do the two physically, emotionally, and sexually harass each other, but there’s some evidence that the whole relationship is only a middle finger to Pulitzer. It’ll last as long as their rebellious phases, and then end in a spectacular break up.

[newsiepedia]

What is the “Newsiepedia?”

Are you new to the Newsies fandom, and don’t know what’s going on? Have you been in the Newsies fandom for a while, and don’t know what’s going on? Then follow this blog! I aim to create clear, understandable posts about the canon aspects of the musical and movie, to make it easier for fans to put their own spin on things.

The Newsiepedia will have two types of posts: character profiles, where I (attempt to) describe a character’s personality based on canon information, and will it ship? posts, where I list all the reasons a ship may or may not work. There may be other types of posts later on, but those are the ones I have planned for now.

My first posts will be character entries for Mush, Elmer, and Finch. Feel free to reblog this post and help a fan! ~ Mod Strings

[broadwayhoran]

do you know what I believe in? look into my eyes and see

[broadwayhoran]

“If I were a boy, you’d be looking at me through one swollen eye!” “Don’t let that stop you. Gimme your best shot.”

[broadwayhoran]

👏🏼 I 👏🏼 am 👏🏼 trash 👏🏼 for 👏🏼 Jack 👏🏼 and 👏🏼 Katherine 👏🏼

[broadwayhoran]

uhhh, so I am jackkatherine trash. have a wedding photo.