Can Maria (Sound of Music) be black?- Page 2

[misschung]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:13pm

thanks, Michael. I figured as much, and yeah - you put your weight, hair color, ethnicity, etc on your headshot. So wouldn't it make sense that if you dont meet the requirements for a specific part, that you just wont be cast?

I mean talk about lawsuits - when else do you see an advertisement that says "seeking Asian American female, must be in great physical shape" (which I just read yesterday) lol

[jv92]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:13pm

Does it say in the script- "Enter Maria. She is white."? No. Go ahead. Cast it the way you want. It's not going to change the world.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:13pm

"so why is considering a person's race wrong in this kind of situation?"

because it's Illegal,

and as for the person who said Maria shoudl be white just as Aida should be black.

If that is so then you must have a problem with Natalie Wood as Maria, do you?

And it's colorBLIND casting, that means you're asking that of the audience as well.
And regardless of the legal grey area that Michael Bennett and other pontificate about, it's all just another word for rationalization of racism, don't buy into it, it has no real basis.

It is UNETHICAL and IMMORAL to not cast the best applicant based on the color of their skin, end of story.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:16pm

Fenchurch - again, it is NOT illegal. Just as it is not illegal to not cast somebody because their eye color is the wrong shade of blue which in professional film and theatre happens ALL THE TIME. And it is not always as unethical or immoral or racist as you paint.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:21pm

Go for it.
Cast the best actress.

[misschung]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:22pm

It is UNETHICAL and IMMORAL to not cast the best applicant based on the color of their skin, end of story.

I agree with you - if the script did not specify race for a particular part, and two applicants auditioned - one black, one white, the black performer being stronger - and the director made a decision not to cast the black performer because they were black, then I agree that would be wrong.

I don't know if the original script specifies race for Maria with the Sound of Music. And again, I'm not saying that casting a black Maria shouldn't be done, but its the director's choice as to how she wants to portray the story.

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 10:22 PM

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:37pm

It is UNETHICAL and IMMORAL to not cast the best applicant based on the color of their skin, end of story.
=========================================

No on all counts. Not immoral, not unethical, not end of story. You're not putting the actor onstage, you're putting a character onstage. You know what you want the character to look like. If you don't like someone's look, then that's that.

[cooperross]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:44pm

'You should NOT hesitate to cast this actress as Maria if she is the best person that auditioned.

To do otherwise is racist, plain and simple.

The Sound of Music does not explicitly mention race as a factor in any decision that Maria makes or that anyone makes regarding Maria, therefore it is not an issue.'

No matter how historically inaccurate the piece is..I think you would have had a difficult time finding a black person as a nun in pre-Anschluss Austria.

Sorry, I wouldn't buy it. No more than I'd buy black Laurie in 'Oklahoma' no matter how good they were.

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 10:44 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:47pm

"Sorry, I wouldn't buy it. No more than I'd buy black Laurie in 'Oklahoma' no matter how good they were."

That's exactly what makes you a racist.

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:50pm

Oh, honk off, Fenchurch, she's not a racist. Face it, if a director is going for any kind of historical accuracy or realism, a black Maria doesn't make sense. I don't know Oklahoma, so I can't speak for that. But still, where do you get off calling people racist for this?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:51pm

CALLING KENNETH ENG

[cooperross]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:51pm

no..not a racist..a realist of the times in which shows take place.

But no one will ever convince you of anything else, since you see racism around every corner with all of your ridiculous postings on here.

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:51pm

I feel like I'm watching theatre of the absurd as I'm reading this thread.

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:57pm

I feel like I'm watching theatre of cruelty. FISHCRAPPER> BLAGHHHHH! I LOVE YOU AND I AM SO HAPPY!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:58pm

I almost spat out my pasta. MY WHITE PASTA.

WHITE.

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:59pm

OMG, you RACIST! PASTA RACIST!

Did you not even consider the tricolor? Of course you didn't!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:02pm

OMG, you RACIST! PASTA RACIST!

Did you not even consider the tricolor? Of course you didn't!

Shawk: I have never before been tempted to make someone's post my sig, but this one did it.

[misschung]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:08pm

"Sorry, I wouldn't buy it. No more than I'd buy black Laurie in 'Oklahoma' no matter how good they were."

That's exactly what makes you a racist.

so by your logic, no decision of any director or casting director should ever take race into account?



btw - I had brown rice tonight, so I'm safe. I am however, spiteful towards white rice since it spikes my blood sugar

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:10pm

Thank you. I have advised the tricolor pasta to seek legal representation in this matter. Stay tuned.

[helloagain]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:11pm

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/boston/boston95.html

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:47am

Fenchurch, you are making yourself look very rash and uninformed.

Saying a person is racist because they do not believe a black Maria would work in context of the show is absurd at best, insulting at worst.

As MichaelBennet said, it depends upon the rest of the cast. If the rest of the cast was cast colorblind, then I say go for it, as the production is already knowingly ignoring that specific aspect of the historical context. But if the rest of the cast is white, and just Maria is black, then, yes, it could be a little jarring considering the show.

They live in Austria. Historically, Maria is white. To have her be the only one in the cast not white, though there is not a huge problem with it, it may cause a problem. Especially considering the plot (Nazis and everything).

It would be kind of like casting a production of Ragtime all traditionally, but then casting a white man as Coalhouse. Sure, the show would go on, but it would just throw everything off, because of the context, both of the show and historically.

Updated On: 4/24/07 at 12:47 AM

[jg4892]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:58am

I agree with you for the most part sticktopriest, but I really don't think you can compare Maria with Coalhouse. I think a white coalhouse would detract from the show, whereas with a black Maria, the audience might pause and think for a second and then get over it.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:58am

Would Porgy and Bess work with a white performer in one of the lead roles?

[Effie]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 1:01am

"Sorry, I wouldn't buy it. No more than I'd buy black Laurie in 'Oklahoma' no matter how good they were."

Hate to break it to you, Cooperross, but there were quite a few black settlers in the Oklahoma territories, so a black Laurie isn't as preposterous as you make it out to be.

A black nun in Austria fighting the Nazis with song -- that's another issue. But you know what? The character isn't black, the actor is. She isn't Maria. She's only pretending to be Maria. If that's too much for people to handle, they don't have to go. And if they do go and unwittingly find themselves presented with this affront against nature, they're welcome to ask for their money back.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 1:04am

Michael Bennett I really liked your backstory to how it could fit!!