William Frawley is the actor who played the role of Frederick (Fred) Hobart Mertz, landlord to Lucille Ball’s character Lucy in the 1950’s sitcom I Love Lucy. The show I Love Lucy follows the hilarious marital bliss of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, a young couple trying to survive in New York City and thrive in the entertainment business. The minor character of Fred is often drawn into the comedic schemes of his tenants, Lucy and Ricky, along with his wife Ethel and their dog Butch. The show is heavily influenced by theatre and vaudeville performances and draws upon these themes in its character creation, plotlines, and casting choices. As Mathijs notes in the “Small Parts, Small Players” dossier of Screen: “the ensemble cast is rooted in centuries-old theatrical models” (Mathijs, 2011) and these models are obviously reflected in the minor character of Fred Mertz. One theatrical model at work within the show and demonstrated through the minor role of Fred Mertz is the evolution of cinema and entertainment and particularly a reverent nod to the past vaudevillian influences that are seen throughout the show. From slap-stick humour and musical numbers to over the-top performances filled with dramatic dialogue, I Love Lucy very much demonstrates how cinema grew from theatre and positions the character of Fred Mertz to be an example of this evolution. Fred Mertz is a former vaudevillian with a successful carer behind him, he is often put into positions where he can over-act in the vaudeville style and brings with him the necessary timing of physical comedy. Within the show, his past vaudeville career is referenced as a point of pride, and he is often sought out for wisdom and help with Lucy and Ricky’s own forays into the entertainment industry. This characterization parallels William Frawley’s own past as a vaudevillian and brings a legitimacy of character and to the I Love Lucy show. Another theatrical model at work within Fred’s character is that of stock casting, where actors were often hired to play characters that were associated with their physical types. In the case of William Frawley, the character of Fred Mertz is very much that of a fat old fool, a comedically befuddled older gentleman who functions as a support to the comedy of Ricky and Lucy and as a caricature of well-off, retired gentlemen of the 1950’s. This performance fits into the idea that some small player roles are a form of screen acting that appeals to a particular niche group (Mathijs, 2011), while the vaudevillian aspect of Fred Mertz’s character functions in much the same way; welcoming an older generation familiar with those entertainment styles into the newest from of theatre production: the televised sitcom.
Works Cited
Mathijs, Ernest. “Referential acting and the ensemble cast” Screen. vol. 52, no. 1, 2011.
Straw, Will. “Introduction” Screen. vol. 52, no. 1, 2011.
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