Phrase 'The show was a fiasco...'

[Nessie]

Hi,
Please have a look at this:
The show was a fiasco - the lights wouldn't work, one actor forgot his lines and another fell off the stage.
=> Why is it "wouldn't" and not "didn't"? What's the difference between the two versions?

Many thanks,
Nessie.
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:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

That is basically a use of 'will' to indicate 'willingness'.

Sometimes we say that an inanimate object 'will not do something' to indicate that the object seems to be actively refusing to do what we want it to do.

Your sentence refers to the past, so the past form of 'will' (would) was used.

Using 'wouldn't' rather than 'didn't' in your sentence suggests that the person tried repeatedly to turn the lights on (and possibly even attempted some sort of repair), but the lights stubbornly refused to work.
.
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[Ralf]

Hi,

Yeah, it's very common to say something as in 'It just wouldn't stop raining' to indicate that the i.e. the weather 'felt like delivering' rain.
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[Nessie]

Thanks a lot, Amy and Ralf :)
This usage is so interesting. However I still wonder: if only 'will not do something' can be used this way, then how can we express our idea if we're talking about sth at the present?
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Alan]

Hi Nessie,

My car wouldn't start yesterday and it won't start today, either.

Any good?

Alan
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[Acemang]

That would be correct. The "wouldn't" in your sentence referred to efforts made by you to start the car. Wouldnt implies effort, while didnt is more of stating a fact.