Is it some kind of parody of a dominant/submissive relationship? Is it based on showmanship–because the old “hot blonde” assistants were to be sawed in half, never spoke? Is Penn making fun of that, or just imitating it because it works better on the stage?
I did hear Teller speak ONCE on their show, as part of a gag. I think it was one word.
Usually Teller is on the receiving end of some kind of physical torment or danger, making his silence even more unusual.
This issue of submissively silent partner thing is crying out for a women’s studies major to unleash some feminist criticism.
From the Penn & Teller FAQ:
When Teller first began performing at fraternity parties in his college days, he discovered that if he didn’t speak, the frat boys would set down their cups of beer, remove their hands from their girlfriends’ breasts, and pay attention to what he was doing.
When I saw their show years ago, Teller was the voice of Mofo, the talking gorilla, as well as the (singing) voice of the ghost of Harry Houdini. He also chatted with audience members in the lobby after the show. He just doesn’t talk as Teller while performing on stage.
He does speak. After the show I saw (and from what I understand is every show), both Penn and Teller stay behind and greet the entire audience. When you meet him he doesn’t pretend to not speak. He acts like a normal human. Well, a normal human wearing a toga and covered in stage blood (when I saw him anyway). And he taught Latin at my BIL’s high school.
Teller wrote a book not too long ago and gave an interview on NPR about it (sorry, my Google-fu is failing and I can’t find the title). Where Penn’s voice is harsh and grating, Teller’s is very pleasant: sonorous and sincere. It’s ironic that the one with the nicer voice never talks on stage…
I’m reminded of when P&T were on the old Daily Show with Craig Kilborn. As the final of the “Five Questions”, Kilborn said, “This one’s for Teller: Say something!”
Teller apparently said “Fuck!”, but of course it was bleeped, so you still didn’t hear him.
When they started out in their respective careers, both Penn and Teller had to find a way to deal with such difficulties as lack of attention or hecklers or noisy environments. Penn coped by being louder and more dominant than anyone else in the room. Teller didn’t have this option and opted instead to go silent and to do dangerous stuff that got people watching. When they started working together, they decided to keep to these respective roles, and it has worked very well for them. Teller is delighted to have a fantastic front man for the act who does all the talking and the jokes, and who can handle anything thrown at him (sometimes literally); Penn is delighted to be working with a man regarded by most other magicians as one of the greatest magical thinkers and inventors there has been.
Off stage, Teller talks normally, just like anyone else.
Homer: Hey, I thought you never talked.
Teller: Uh, I didn’t mean to. It just slipped out. Oh, God, now Penn’s going to beat me.
Penn: Folks, it’s all part of the act!
Teller: No it isn’t! Don’t leave me alone with him!
Penn: You’ve ruined the act! I’m going to kill you!
Teller: He’ll do it! I’m not the first Teller.