Casting by Race- Page 2

[pab]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 4:33pm

I saw a brilliant production of "The Tempest" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival with 'Prospero' as a woman.

In 1999 when I directed a production of "Sweeney Todd", I cast a woman to play 'Pirelli' and as everyone knows, it's that way in the present Broadway production.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 4:44pm

"i think on the stage, there is the aspect of the audience's "suspension of disbelief" therefore, anything could work if it's done well"

^^ I agree 100%

It's 2005; nearly anything can be done. There could be a 'black' husband and a 'white' wife or vice versa

There are many in 'real' life. *CoughCough*

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 5:11pm

When I was in Pirates of Penzance our Major General was black and all the daughters were white. I don't think anyone really cared because that whole production was more or less a train wreck but I agree that period pieces and shows about specific people should be kept race specific.

[GClef2]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 5:37pm

I agree totally with drama dork. Um...this is coming from someone who saw an all white production of Aida. There was definetly an awkward feeling in the air when 45 white suburban school girls and boys sang "The Gods Love Nubia"


That was a defining moment in my life.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 7:22pm

I think certain personalities like Martin Luther King & RFK need to be performed by the right ethnicity. Other than that, everything else is fair game for one & all

[way_to_spend_the_day]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 9:00pm

Once the initial shock of observing colorblind casting is over (which, presumably, should be overcome by the talent of the actor) I am all for it. Unless the actor's ethnicity is actually referred to in the script, why should this matter? Yes, you may be presenting a historical piece such as Les Miz, but don't most of you wait at the stage door, hoping to grab the cast member's autographs, essentially ruining the illusion anyway? As long as someone is cast based on talent, race and gender should not matter in the least.

Look at the original engineer in Miss Saigon--a very asian part, yet the original actor was white. However, he was convincing, and in my opinion amazingly talented. The show was able to work because he kept the illusion up. The audience could forgive his race and was able to just absorb the show itself. The only time I have seen colorblind casting not work, was in a production of Side Show. Jake was cast white. This obvioulsy does not work in the context of the show, because a great plot twist DEPENDS on his race.

I like the fact that ethnic actors can have a chance to perform in a lead which is written specifically for their ethnicity, however, in my opinion this shoud never place someone less talented into a role over someone not of this ethnicity. You are simply PLANNING on presenting a show of lesser caliber than you could.

And Lea Salonga's performance, as an asian eponine, is my favorite of anyone who has ever played that role--hands down.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 12:25am

In Hawaii, casting is more by talent than race and it is no big deal to the audiences. Hawaiians had kings and queens, so it's pretty natural for a Hawaiian to be in one of those Shakespeare roles there.

Yes, it could be awkward in some plays where race is actually part of the theme in the play, but then a twist of changing the race could also be a political commentary. For example, in a piece which has a dominant and subserviant racial situation, you could change it to races of a different culture where you could draw an interesting parallel.

When we didn't have someone to play an Asian elderly lady role there, I stuck a Vietnamese field worker hat on a Caucasian woman there for a play and nobody even noticed. for me it's the acting and story that counts...

[RightAmerica]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 5:16pm

I agree with The Distinctive Baritone: Color-blind casting is mostly WRONG.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 5:20pm

Now instead of simply espousing your own crackpot opinions, you're twisting other people's words to suit your own ignorant purposes. Show me where EXACTLY that Distinctive Baritone said "Color-blind casting is mostly WRONG."

Posted: 8/2/06 at 5:26pm

As long as you admit that color-blind casting is a one-way street, it's okay for you to think the way you do.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 5:44pm

yeah. people singing in the middle of a scene is realistic. i have no problem with color blind casting. it is odd to me that people even care. i mean clearly when people say a character is a certain race, it matters. It is odd to me that someone would think phantom was believable, but no if he was played by a black actor. this story is fantasy! it also is upsetting that people think it is weird that a character would have children of diffrent races, especially if it is a contemporary show. People do adopt and those people dont go around explaining it to everyone.
Updated On: 8/2/06 at 05:44 PM

Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:14pm

I saw the revival of On Golden Pond that starred James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams. It was very well done. In the show, Jones and Uggams' daughter was also black, as was her fiance and his son. The only white person in the cast was the mailman. I would have no problem if other shows were cast in this fashion. If Lizzie in 110 in the Shade can be black, why shouldn't her father and brothers also be black? When I see a show I want to believe it, I don't want to have to suspend my belief.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:20pm

Ok, well I am currently performing in "1776" and I am part Filipino, part Spanish and part "white" playing Dr. Lyman Hall of Georgia. I do feel some awkwardness in the role, but the audience never seems to have any opinion either way. We also have a light-skinned African-American playing Samuel Chase of Maryland.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:28pm

If I can believe that monkeys really fly, I can surely believe that a white woman has two black daughters.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:48pm

RightAmerica--

Based on the posts you've made so far, I'd say that you and I could never agree on anything.

Never did I say that "color blind casting is mostly wrong." What I said was (and this was like, nine months ago, BTW) that it depends on the show. If you'd like to see more details of my clearly stated argument, please see me original post.

Oh, and stop being an a**hole. Thanks.
Updated On: 8/2/06 at 07:48 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:06pm

To all the people who are using Les Mis as an example and saying that a black person would not realistically be in a certain role in society at that time, I have a question. If the tint of a person's skin is causing so you so much trouble over historical accuracy that you can't fully get into the show...what about the fact that they are all breaking out singing and dancing in perfect voices and harmonies. Did they often break out into long, drawn out solo belt numbers during the French Revolution, instead of speaking?

The theatre is a sacred, magical place that is quite unique in the sense that the minute that curtian goes up, the audience is so willing to suspend disbelief. A good audience doesn't care that there are a few tress on stage, they are willing to fill in the rest of the forest with their minds. They can easily do the same with the colour of a person's skin.

Akiva

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:08pm

Amen Akiva!!

[leon1489]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:10pm

Somewhat off-topic... somewhat not...

For all of the arguments made about the Engineer, do people not realize that he's half-Asian, half-French? He could succesfully be played by either one because he's a bit of both.

[wiggum2]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:23pm

I've often wondered if you could have a black Mark, white Collins, white Joanne etc in Rent. As far as I know there isn't any reason is there?

[RightAmerica]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:27pm

Probably not, Wiggums2, since the author clearly doesn't want it that way.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:32pm

"In the show, Jones and Uggams' daughter was also black, as was her fiance and his son."

Well if either jones or uggams character was cast white their daughter could still look like the actress that was cast. if jones and uggams characters were cast as white actors, their daughter could still be black. People adopt all the time and dont broadcast it! Have you ever wondered how annoying it is for adopted and children with parents of diffrent races it is never to see a family that represents what a lot of american families look like. On Golden Pond was an awful example bc, her fiance and son could have been asian and still made since. it does not make since to people that dont see mixed homes all the time. as a new yorker i see every race with children, spouses and siblings of diffrent cultures. i also have a really diverse group of friends. Who knows!? i just could never understand not being able to get passed race in a musical!

[gustof777]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:34pm

"Have you ever wondered how annoying it is for adopted and children with parents of diffrent races it is never to see a family that represents what a lot of american families look"

exactly NYC! I'm adopted from Colombia and my family is White and I don't think I've ever seen that on a stage.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:37pm

RightAmerica...I actually think that if Larson was alive today he would be sickened by the lack of creativity in casting his show. I really don't think he intended almost every actor in the show to have to be the same race as the person who originated it.

Akiva

[Tokyogirl119]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:01pm

Of course it depends on the show. Take Wicked. Noone would care about a black Elphaba (wouldn't be able to tell) or Fiyero, or if they were any other ethnicity. I think Glinda might be a problem though...


But if there was a white Coalhouse in Ragtime, that would make absolutely no sense.It would also confuse the hell out of the audience.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:11pm

Well said Akiva and Tokyo, there are certain cases that NEED a certain ethnicities.