Thats an extremely good point. I never even though of it that way. And it makes a lot of sense too: a girl who has been prejudiced beacause of her race is trying to fit in and be like everyone else because shes been shown by those hardships that being balck is a bad thing. So she ridicules Elphaba for being green because she thinks being different is bad now
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
There's no doubt that it would work. No one would watch the show and think "WHAT! Glinda is blonde but she's black! Black people can't have blonde hair!" With all the plot holes and messy direction that show already faces, that would be the least of their problems.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
I'm not quite sure why everyone insists upon keeping with the traditions the Wizard of Oz has created. Wicked is supposedly a twisted up retelling of the story, so why not twist it in this area too?It's also a little hyprocritical of a show that's about looking past skin color to rule out a black Galinda. I think having that would almost be a stronger reinforcement of that theme than anything else, because it's getting past the glinda sterotype we've seen for a hundered years.
I think Heather Headly would be fantastic in the role, by the way.
>>They could SO turn Wicked into a Soulfull Black version.... E: "He chose me, so get outta my face, BYATCH!" ::slap:: "Feel bettah?" G: "You know it" E: "Check this..." ::slap:: "Down wit' it now?" G: "Ya know it" ::fight::
....I'm not even gonna start...it is getting way to late
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
I would NOT want to see Tevye or Caroline or Aida played by a black, white, or white person, respectively....
I was also, as I said, not comparing Wicked to Aida...so no analogy fell apart...
The Wiz, however, was created to be for black people....and it should be kept that way.
What I AM saying is that people are used to a certain "look." Black people and blonde hair - not something people are used to.
As for Fiddler...it takes place in Russia (my family is from a similar village).....but why can't the one or two Jewish Asians from eastern Russia be Tevye, Golde, and the family...having moved to Anatevka.....Yes, that sounds STUPID, but it could be true - without explanation.
Let's set up this scenario: The white cast of Caroline walks on stage before the show - or the Playbill (or some sign) CLEARLY says this: "THE CAST WILL ALL BE POTRAYING BLACK PEOPLE." Done. This is theatre. The audience NOW knows that everyone on stage is supposed to be black.
I know this is a DUMB idea and WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
All I am saying is that this won't happen because OBVIOUSLY something gets lost......
(I don't think Regina could sing for Glinda...if she could sing at all)
People just can't understand that SOMETIMES, roles are written specifically for actors of certain races, i.e. HAIRSPRAY, AIDA, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, etc. In cases where the character's race is not explicitly designated, there is no reason for it to be played by a white person. I think I am more sensitive to this issue, as I am clearly not of the white persuasion. Every time I do another play or musical, at least one person comes up to me after the show and makes a comment about me "breaking down barriers." Although these comments are meant to be positive and encouraging, it's unfortunate that they have to be made at all. I've been cast in roles that aren't typically played by people of color (Scapin in SCAPIN, Pseudolus in ...FORUM, even though Whoopi Goldberg did play that part, Snoopy in YAGMCB, etc) and usually, people can't see past it.
On INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO, Morgan Freeman said something that really inspired me. I can't remember it verbatim, but when James Lipton mentioned a conversation in which someone told Morgan that he played a black president in DEEP IMPACT, Morgan said, "No I didn't. I never PLAY black." I love it! Who is to say that the President in DEEP IMPACT was black, just because the ACTOR was black?? It's kind of deep and challenges you to actually look past what you see and it makes you THINK and I love that.
Updated On: 2/1/05 at 11:17 PM
I agree 100%...after shows, people come up to me and say the same thing about "how great it was that someone who isn't white could portray that character" ...and yes, i wish that these comments weren't made, but at least they were meant posititvely...
and to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't even WANT to play a character who, in the libretto or score, is referred to as a specific race that I am not. AIDA, and RAISIN are examples of shows which deal with racial struggles, and it just wouldn't be right for someone not black to play those characters...
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
BSO: I know what you are trying to say, but it's kind of hard to take seriously. In some of your wording, you sounded very opposed to the notion of an African-American playing Glinda which is why I might have misunderstood your posts, if I truly did.
And yes, there is MUCH reverse discrimination but those who usually call such instances as discrimination usually aren't worth taking seriously in the first place. Some people refuse to understand certain things, even when they are obviously wrong.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
I agree, i think heather has the PERFECT voice for elphaba, she would be absolutely stunning...
Bsobw~ maybe that's how the people around you talked when you were growing up, but not all "soulful," people talk like that. And yes, it is horrible how hollywood depicts many, many different types of people...
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
I don't think race need be an issue unless it's a part of the show, like Hairspray. The story requires actors of certain races for particular roles, there's just no other way to do it.
Minor off-topic note- someone said that Radames should have dark skin. Radames is an Egyptian noble and thus not Eygptian. I am not sure when the show is set precisely, but the Ptolemy line (and others, I think) were Macedonian, from near Greece. They were fair skinned and had blonde hair or blue eyes. (Cleopatra was the last of the Ptolemies, so everything you've seen of her as having black hair and dark skin is inaccurate, by the way) Radames' race was one of the few historically accurate parts of Aida.
It's really hard to make poins like this when you can't tell when I am being "sarcastic" etc...
NO, munk - the point of the "reverse discrimination" is that a white person could seriously not produce a show and say "NO BLACK PPL WHATSOEVER." A black person, however, could get away with saying "NO WHITE PEOPLE WHATSOEVER." Belive me, it has happened to a much lesser extent....but happened nevertheless...
Again, this makes me sound racist - but I truly am NOT (hell, I'm going to see "Black By Popular Demand"......because andre's my favorite performer....)
not to mention, insomniak, that nubians were much darker than egyptions, or egyptian nobility who, as you said, were macedonian...i actaully didn't know that, thank you..ya learn something new everyday!:)
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
Audra McDonald has been able to trascend the whole "race" aspect with her amazing talents. Carrie Pippenridge in "Carousel," Dot in "Sunday in the Park With George," etc. One of her greatest wishes is to play Eliza Dolittle. Now, if Cameron Mackintosh would get his recent London revival up and running on the other side of the pond please....
There was also a black Madame Therardier on Broadway, who was with the company for some time. There was no ruckus raised about that....