"Pleasures and Palaces" actor objected to same-sex kiss on religious grounds

[chanel]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 11:46am

So they cut it!

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2013/01/theater_actor_o.php

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 12:18pm

Since this kiss between men is, datedly and objectionably, for comic effect - oh ha ha, two men kissing, how fey and funny! - I'm glad they cut it.

Here's an idea. Since it's a musical about Catherine the Great, why not have her kiss a horse?

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 12:40pm

"I'd love to get Bryant's point of view, but he doesn't seem to be on Facebook or Twitter, so I've reached out to the Lyric's managing director and am awaiting a reply."

Call his damn agent. Jeez I know Musto's column isn't really journalism,, but do some damn work. Lazy.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 12:55pm

His resume doesn't mention an agent, and is of sufficiently low wattage to suggest that he might be self-managed.

Apropos of nothing, he currently studies with one Deena Kaye (who is not Danny Kaye's daughter, Dena).
The guy's credits

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 12:59pm

LOL you apparently were able to find his email and telephone number faster than Musto got up for his second donut.

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:08pm

WOW, this guy is not going to have much future as an actor if he is this sensitive to material. Almost everything he will do in the future or even in the past may have been some "grounds" to cut the part because of his religious beliefs. This guy needs to grow up and or not accept shows that may not hurt his beliefs, and believe me that's going to be hard.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:24pm

"WOW, this guy is not going to have much future as an actor if he is this sensitive to material."

That isn't much of a given. Jim Caviezel is a devout Catholic who refuses to do love scene (no problems with violence, though), and I'd say he's a pretty successful actor.

My question is, regarding this specific case, if the guy had a problem with the kiss, why did he audition for the role? Why wait until a week before the show to express his feelings

Most important, why is Musto using the word "supposedly"?
Caviezel credits

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:29pm

I'm surprised a Bryant with a "y" is objecting to a same sex kiss.

[chanel]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:41pm

It clearly says "supposedly" because it came from a source and the theater hasn't weighed in with a response.

As for rejoicing that a comic kiss was cut, the actor ("supposedly") didn't object for that reason, but because it offended his religious views.

Still rejoicing?

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:41pm

Perhaps he's afraid that something would come up in response to finally kissing a real, live boy?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:46pm

"As for rejoicing that a comic kiss was cut, the actor ("supposedly") didn't object for that reason, but because it offended his religious views.

Still rejoicing?"

My point was that, notwithstanding his motives, it might be a blessing in disguise given that the scene sounds as if it might well be far more homophobic than he is.

Moreover, I'm not rejoicing about anything. I'm just pointing that out.

[suestorm]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:49pm

i think its dumb that he objects but he is entitled to his own beliefs. just as some actors may object to violence and gunplay. We must learn to be tolerant of others beliefs, even if theyre dopey.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:56pm

"It clearly says "supposedly" because it came from a source and the theater hasn't weighed in with a response. "

So in other words, we don't know that this is true at all, since (as far as I can tell), the only source we have is Musto's anonymous one. Not that it would be surprising, b/c this theater is in Texas, but I can't get all hot and bothered about something that "supposedly" happened.

Not a huge Musto fan, I do admit. I also find this sentence, regarding the thus far non-response of the managing director: "It's been over a day and she must be pleasuring herself in her palace because she's not answering." a nasty and cheap shot, and not at all funny.

[chanel]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:57pm

The irony is he probably wouldn't object to playing a murderer or tyrant, but he objects to a male kiss.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:58pm

You don't know that, either, though that's clearly the case with Caviezel.

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 1:59pm

ghostlight2, total agree. But, the actor you mention I am sure selects his roles wisely, so for me that is still respectable.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:02pm

"You don't know that, either, though"

Well...he was in Marat/Sade, so...

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:03pm

As to Caviezel, he's quite upfront about his beliefs, and yes, I absolutely respect his choices, as they don't affect anyone else. If this Musto story is true, it sounds like Bryant wasn't upfront.

eta to respond to Robbie:

""You don't know that, either, though"

Well...he was in Marat/Sade, so..."

You know that, and I now know that, but chanel didn't, hence the use of word "probably". To me, this is all really a tempest in a teapot until we learn if this is really true or not. Updated On: 1/29/13 at 02:03 PM

[chanel]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:03pm

"We must respect his views?" So anyone can change a script they agreed to do, based on their views?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:09pm

I worked with an actress that refused to do a stage kiss with ANYONE because she made a promise to her husband not to. As long as you are up front about what you will and won't do, I guess I can't fault the actors who make those choices. I don't get it...but whatever. Ain't my problem.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:09pm

I'm just surprised anyone is reviving Pleasures and Palaces.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:22pm

"The irony is he probably wouldn't object to playing a murderer or tyrant, but he objects to a male kiss."

In fairness, an actor doesn't actually murder someone when he plays doing so on stage. The same is not true for a kiss.

As others have said, assuming the facts as reported by Musto, for the sake of the argument, the real issue here is whether he chose to take the role and later objected to the kiss. If so, that's obviously unprofessional. He should have discussed this before agreeing to take the job.

As for refusing a gay kiss on stage for religious reasons, I think that's wrong. But that's beside the point.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:48pm

I went to college with a fantastically talented kid who, much to my lasting sadness, turned down the role of The Baker in INTO THE WOODS in his sophomore year because the character lies, cheats, and steals to get his wish. It didn’t matter to him that show explicitly examines, comments on, and does not glorify these very human failings. I reasoned to him that even in medieval morality plays, someone had to play the devil.

But despite my efforts, he couldn’t reconcile the role with his Christian faith, which had become significantly more intense since his freshman year previous… when he had played John Wilkes Booth in ASSASSINS.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:52pm

He could sing the words 'n* love' but not 'if you know what you need then you go and you find it and you take it'?????

I...I just don't understand.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/29/13 at 2:59pm

¯\_(")_/¯

Updated On: 1/29/13 at 02:59 PM