A Black Glinda? — Page 2

I think stating history as a reason why NOT to cast something is bullsh*t. And it generally comes from white people. NOw culturally is something totally different. For instance I have no problem with an Asian Hedda Gabler. But a white Porgy and Bess is rediculous because it's about race. People need to stop using those silly examples as reasons why color blind casting doesn't work. It'd be equally foolish to see a black guy in the Diary of Anne Frank. I mean it's about a race of people.

I'm also getting a little tired of the ohhh remember Carousel, remember Hello Dolly and Chicago...as if to say see look how opened minded we can be. The truth of the matter is that while progress has been made, there's still a long way to go. A handful of examples (while good things they are) aren't a sign that we as a society have made it. Progress never stops.

"Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe."
"Blonde!"

Try replacing that.
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"Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe."
"Black!"

Oh man, that is sooooo bad. Whew, that would be an interesting change. I'm not saying it can't be done, I was just pointing out other "blonde references".

heh I thought that too. I think that would be interesting. However I think Elpheba would have a hard time making teh audience actually like her after that.

I have been searching the web for the last ten minutes to try to find a pic of Star Jones when she looked like a total idiot dressed up as Glinda for Halloween. She looked almost as goofy as Meredith dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West. I have the video, but of course, it won't screen cap.

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Def not most of the Elphebas. I think MAYBE 2? I would love to see what the facial structure of an indian woman would look with green.

Oh, maybe I just thought they were ethic? The new Elphie in ATL doesn't seem totally white to me. But I'm really bad at judging that sort of thing, nor does it really matter. I'd love to see how an ethnic actor tackles the role of glinda. I think it could work, but not as an u/s. I think she'd have to take over the role because of all the problems it might make because of the dialogue.

Oh, maybe I just thought they were ethic? The new Elphie in ATL doesn't seem totally white to me.

There is just so much wrong with that I don't even know where to begin. Come to think of it, I am not sure I have ever seen a totally white person. Maybe that guy that played Napolean Dynomite.

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You know, "pink" would work.

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I don't think anyone is disputing that. I think the dispute comes in WHY doesn't color-blind casting work for role X.

Thank you, Distinctive Baritone.

Why are people objecting to the notion that a black Glinda wouldn't be ideal? Why are people even objecting to this thread?

This has been discussed to DEATH. Not just for this show, but for all shows.

It works with certain roles and shows, and it doesn't work with others. Carrie Pipperedge is not a race specific role. The show doesn't deal with racial issues, or social issues dealing with race. It doesn't matter WHO plays the role. Same with Don Quixote. Sure, it may not be historically accurate if you go back and study the time period and history of the inquisition, it's very unlikely that Don Quixote would have been black.

However, it's all about appearance. You don't have to BE the race or the character you're portraying in most cases, you simply have to LOOK like it fits. Stokes Mitchell is very light skinned, which opens the possibility of the race of Quixote to be white or hispanic - either works, either is possible. In the end, what matters is if the performer gives a convincing performance and if the integrity of the material is upheld. In the cases of Audra and Stokes in CAROUSEL and LA MANCHA, in integrity was indeed upheld and the artistic merit of the show wasn't slighted.

Of course, we've been down this road before. You can't have a white Coalhouse. You can't have a white Celie. It doesn't work.

The role of Glinda is borderline. I, personally, think the show WICKED has very little integrity to uphold anyway, but the casting of a dark-skinned woman in the role may not be ideal. On the other hand, it's perfectly acceptable for someone of any race to play Elphaba. It's just in the material. It's allowed for. It's accomodated for. And please, I don't need to be called a racist. I'm not one, so to waste your words would be a waste of time for the both of us.

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Wicked is not Othello, its just not...

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Well...I mean I certainly wouldn't mind a mass slaughter at the end...

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