Audra Can't Be in "Sunday In The Park" — Page 2

"The character of Dot is a fiction invented by Sondheim and Lapine -- she didn't actually exist (and the character of Seurat is also a fiction -- while such a person did exist, history recorded nothing about him other than he was a painter who died young .... the Seurat in the musical is an invention)."

Seurat did exist, I even saw his tomb in Paris at Pierre Lachese (Sp?)

I don't think that the statement -- which you quoted from my post --

"while such a person did exist, history recorded nothing about him other than he was a painter who died young"

could be ANY clearer. We know that a painter named Georges Seurat existed, died young and never sold a painting in his lifetime. That's it. The way he is depicted in the musical -- that he was anti-social, that he had a difficult relationship with the art establishment of his time, that he became a pointillist because he "wanted to break through to something new, something of his own" (rather than he found it to just be a neat way to paint), that had a mistress named Dot -- not a French name, by the way (rather than a secret wife or a gay male lover) is all fiction invented by Lapine and Sondheim.

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Everybody loves Audra. But the Wiz is a bit different than Sunday in the Park. The Wiz could take place anywhere/anytime with any actor in any role--why not? But Sunday in the Park while fiction, asks you to place yourself in 19th century Paris.

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Because while plausible, a 19th century Parisian woman in that type of impressionist painting would probably not have been black. There are few (if any) impressionist paintings portraying that type of scene with a minority in them. I don't pay $100/ticket to sit through a casting directors PC choice. Audra is possibley our finest stage actress/singer, but there are many talented actresses who look like they'd actually be in a painting like that.

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Well it crosses my mind when it happens--no matter what the race/gender. I'm in the minority on this, however (pun intended.)

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I'm not criticizing; just trying to understand. It seems like black actors and actresses would continue to be at a severe disadvantage, then, until shows are written to "accommodate" their color and that sounds like a giant step back for society. At any rate, I respect your right to your opinion.

There is an issue with casting a black beggar woman (at least if she's the only black person in the cast). The big surprise at the end is kinda blown.

In the end, however, these are concert versions...race of any sort should make no difference.

However, and I'm still waiting for an answer or at least a fun debate, how does one suggest one get around the fact that a black actress playing Dot would not look anything like either of the two paintings used to represent her on stage...or a black Black Beggar woman (assuming the most/the entire cast isn't black)?

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I posted this thinking that the theater community would be as open-minded as I about non-traditional casting.

Let me say how shocked and saddended I am reading some of the most ignorant comments I have seen in a long time.

I guess these are the same people who had a hard time with African Americans in "Les Miz".

"Oh..but those wern't real people in the revolution! They're just characters!" you say. And a painting is real?

I had hoped that we, as theater people, would be the ones to blaze a trail in regards to breaking down racial sterotypes.

It's sad sad sad to see those who want to keep the walls up.

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Updated On: 8/18/04 at 06:31 PM

I think the issue many people have is that there is no blakc woman in the painting itself.

However, if you decide to embrace the new idea, it makes total sense:

-George paints two paintings...one of her, and one of the park...where she is "everywhere" (i.e. she inspired the painting, but her likeness need not be in the painting)

-George is often painting things a different color than they are...the mans hat that was green is now red to him, if you recall.

-This makes George more complex because he makes the social move to date/be seen with a black woman, but he will not paint her as black...how interesting is that? And...how much more important does the line "you will be in this painting" become with this kind of casting.

I, for one, think casting Audra not only makes the role sung beautifully, but makes the show itself even more amazing than it already is.

Anyone else think midtown is just saying these things cause they're trying to get a rise outta people?

Come on...can someone be that racist?

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And did anyone really have a problem with Ms. McDonald being cast as Julie in the concert version of Carousel? How likely was an interracial couple back then?

Updated On: 8/18/04 at 07:29 PM

i missed this announcement of the cast. is there a link with the cast listed?

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