Double Standard
Double Standard
#0Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:38am
I posted this on the "What's your opinion on a male playing Annie?" thread, but it hasn't received much attention, so I figured I'd ask separately...
Why is it ok for a girl to play a boy, but not the other way around? I'm guilty of this, so it's not about pointing fingers. I'm just curious what you think. When I choreographed "Fiddler..." last year, we didn't have enough men audition, so some women were cast in male chorus parts. We had a little girl play a jewish boy, and other than a few *interesting* comments, no one really had a problem with it. But the only time men are cast as females is for *comic* relief or as stunt casting.
#1re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:40amIt's the way the cookie crumbles...I may not like it but such is the way of the world...
#2re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:47am
Because reversing gender roles does come with a double standard. It's ok for a girl to be a boy because, at worst, we'll just think she's a lesbian, which is hot.
A guy playing a girl is a sissy fag and must be ridiculed endlessly for his emasculation.
#3re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:48amIt's just physical makeup. It's easier to believe a young woman as a boy than it is a young man as a woman.
#4re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:54am
I'm not so sure I agree as long as we're talking about children.
I mean, remember, it wasn't so long ago that clothing for boys was the same as girls (there's a famous shot of Roosevelt as a child, looking just like a little girl in his boy dress).
#5re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:57am
I didn't read the "Annie" thread so I hope this hasn't been pointed out already but in for a VERY long time at all-boy schools the boys played the female parts. It was tradition. Now that "our" society (and by this I am mainly referring to the US) has become more aware of homosexuality, many activities have been put to rest. There was a time when homosocial bonding was not perceived as a "threat."
And, on a related topic, I believe J.M. Barrie insisted that a girl always play Peter Pan. Perhaps he thought girls were more ethereal and that was his concept of Pan.
Just food for trhought...
Broadway_freak
Broadway Star Joined: 11/4/04
#6re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 12:20pmYou bring up a very good point. It's sad society thinks that way, but you just live to deal with it. I was all for having him play annie, but his parents declined. And that's fine, I can totally understand where they are coming from. But, would they have reacted the same way if he was a she, and I wanted her for the part of Oliver? Of course not, because that's society today. Sad, but true.
#7re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 12:23pma guy plays a women in hairspray and it was brilinat! Updated On: 3/1/05 at 12:23 PM
#8re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 12:49pm
Liam! You're Harvey Fierstein?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
OMG!!!
#9re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:08pmYes Liam, but that's exactly what I mean... it's kind of the *gimmick* of the show, so people are ok with it. Actually, people would be PO'd if a woman played the part (as witnessed on a different thread).
#10re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:48pmYes, but "Hairspray" 's casting of a male as Edna is only followig the movie's casting of Divine as Edna. I think it's becaue the creative team just wanted to be as true to the movie as possible.
#11re: Double Standard
Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:51pmlol no im not harvie (unforchinutly) that was a typo i ment to typ A
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