It's hard to buy...

[EChristina]

DSS Mike Shepherd: Uh, she (means Kristin) doesn't like musicals.
Reverend Greene: Oh, you didn't shed a tear at Les Mis?
DC Kristin Sims: I never saw it. It's hard to buy a ticket for something called miserable.

Source: The Brokenwood Mysteries, Season 9, Episode 1

They are at a theater before watching a musical. I’m not sure about the last sentence.
Does it mean:
1. she will not buy a ticket for something called miserable?
or
2. something called miserable is so popular that you can't get a ticket?

 

[teechar]

2. something called miserable is so popular that you can't get a ticket?

I doubt it.
-------------------

1. she will not buy a ticket for something called miserable?

Yes. She probably means: it's hard to justify spending the money on a ticket for something called 'miserable'.

By the way, are you sure you got the transcription right? Do you have a link to that episode, and if so, at what time does that conversation take place?

 

[Tarheel]

Apparently, you missed the humor. Anyhow, she is saying (in my humble opinion) that something called "miserable" has no (or very little) attraction for her.

 

[EChristina]

I doubt it.
-------------------

Yes. She probably means: it's hard to justify spending the money on a ticket for something called 'miserable'.

By the way, are you sure you got the transcription right? Do you have a link to that episode, and if so, at what time does that conversation take place?

I'm sorry I don't have a link. But I will attach the clip for your reference.

 

[EChristina]

Apparently, you missed the humor. Anyhow, she is saying (in my humble opinion) that something called "miserable" has no (or very little) attraction for her.

I don't know why I thought she was ironic about Les Mis' popularity at first. After rewatching the clip, I get what you mean.

 

[EChristina]

I'm sorry I don't have a link. But I will attach the clip for your reference.

I tried to upload the clip but failed, so I uploaded the screenshot. I'm quite sure the subtitle is correct. I still like to know why it can't be an ironic comment like I understood before.

 

[teechar]

I tried to upload the clip but failed,

Upload it to YouTube, and post the link below.

 

[Tarheel]

@EChristina Apparently, you still don't get the humor. Anyhow, it's a play on words.

I reread the OP. There is no mention of irony.

 

[emsr2d2]

DC Sims was being funny. At a push, you could say she was being sarcastic. She definitely didn't say anything ironic. Irony would be if a musical called "Les Miserables" made you incredibly happy!

 

[EChristina]

@EChristina Apparently, you still don't get the humor. Anyhow, it's a play on words.

I reread the OP. There is no mention of irony.

Here is the link:

 

[EChristina]

DC Sims was being funny. At a push, you could say she was being sarcastic. She definitely didn't say anything ironic. Irony would be if a musical called "Les Miserables" made you incredibly happy!

Is it sarcastic if she said it's hard to buy a ticket for anything called miserable?

 

[Barque]

She was making a joke. She meant people wouldn't want to go see a play that, from its name, sounded like it'd be a miserable one.

 

[Barque]

A dad joke if you like. She was playing on the fact that the play had "Miserable" in its name.

 

[Barque]

"The play is called "The Miserables"? It must be a bad one, from the name. It must be a miserable play."

That's what she meant. It was supposed to be a joke.

 

[dunchee]

Is it sarcastic if she said it's hard to buy a ticket for anything called miserable?

Judging by how she said it, I'd say yes. She said it sarcastically. I don't believe she was trying to crack a joke.

 

[jutfrank]

Whether you call it a joke or not, it's an attempt to be witty.

 

[emsr2d2]

Is it sarcastic if she said it's hard to buy a ticket for anything called miserable?

I'm not sure you really understand what she meant by "It's hard to buy a ticket". She wasn't talking about how easy or difficult it is for people to buy tickets. She's saying that she struggled to convince herself that it was worth buying a ticket to something with "miserable" in the title

 

[Tarheel]

@EChristina OP - original post (the first in a thread)

 

[EChristina]

I'm not sure you really understand what she meant by "It's hard to buy a ticket". She wasn't talking about how easy or difficult it is for people to buy tickets. She's saying that she struggled to convince herself that it was worth buying a ticket to something with "miserable" in the title

I understand she meant she didn't want to buy a ticket, she didn't want to see something "miserable". But when I compare this sentence to another sentence "It's hard to buy a house now", I feel confused. I think it means it's difficult to buy a house now. I'm not sure if "hard" has different meanings in the phrase "It's hard to buy (something)".

 

[Barque]

Yes, "hard" can have different meanings. You can figure out which applies from the context, usually.

"It's hard to buy a house now",

It's difficult to find a house to buy, because there aren't many available.
It's difficult to buy a house at this time, because I don't have enough money.