Female Sweeney Todd?- Page 2

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 5:36pm

John Adams said: "I think that Lin-Manuel Miranda changed the game, and completely reset the bar for when and how substituting "traditional" or expected casting of roles should be undertaken.

The choices he made regarding the roles and musical styles inHamiltoncreated something so, so incredibly interesting and intelligent; choices that maintained all of the original characters' intents, motivations, goals, relationships, etc., yet produced a recreation of the story that expandedwhat could be found and explored withinthe narrative.

Although it's the exact, same narrative, with the exact, same characters and plot, the finished product is something completely new that stands as its own creation, with expanded ideas and perspectives that allow the audience to see, learn and experience something so much MORE.

Held up against that kind of yardstick, the notion of gender-swapping roles in shows likeGlenngarry/Glen Rossor an all-femaleSweeney Todddon't interest me so much. I just don't think that they could bring that LMM kindof brilliance. [EDIT: I think that's because thepurposebehind each of his choices was so incredibly profound.]

For my tastes, I'd be OK with seeing Audra McDonald as Sweeney because I love her work and her talent, but it wouldn't be anything more than a novelty that satisfied my own, personal whim. It wouldn't pass my (personal) "LMM Test"."

...and yet there has not, to my knowledge, been a woman cast in any of the traditionally male roles in "Hamilton," which surprises me. I thought we'd have seen that by now.

[missthemountains]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 7:11pm

John Adams said: "I think that Lin-Manuel Miranda changed the game, and completely reset the bar for when and how substituting "traditional" or expected casting of roles should be undertaken.

The choices he made regarding the roles and musical styles inHamiltoncreated something so, so incredibly interesting and intelligent; choices that maintained all of the original characters' intents, motivations, goals, relationships, etc., yet produced a recreation of the story that expandedwhat could be found and explored withinthe narrative.

Although it's the exact, same narrative, with the exact, same characters and plot, the finished product is something completely new that stands as its own creation, with expanded ideas and perspectives that allow the audience to see, learn and experience something so much MORE.

Held up against that kind of yardstick, the notion of gender-swapping roles in shows likeGlenngarry/Glen Rossor an all-femaleSweeney Todddon't interest me so much. I just don't think that they could bring that LMM kindof brilliance. [EDIT: I think that's because thepurposebehind each of his choices was so incredibly profound.]

For my tastes, I'd be OK with seeing Audra McDonald as Sweeney because I love her work and her talent, but it wouldn't be anything more than a novelty that satisfied my own, personal whim. It wouldn't pass my (personal) "LMM Test"."

Yeah so Lin Manuel didn't change the game. He just did it bigger and better than most people.

Honestly, gender is a performance, and as long as roles aren't being taken from AFAB actors I think it doesn't matter, really. I'd die to see Sweeney with a male Miss Lovett and a female Sweeney. Why not? Some things have been so ingrained in popular culture like Sweeney that after a certain point it's like, why not do something different? That being said, one must have a good reason for doing what they're doing. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 7:20pm

I have a really crazy idea. Hear me out, everyone...what if...what if...rather than constantly cast women in traditionally male roles, we....hold on, just listen...produce more NEW works that have better roles for women?

[Rainah]

Posted: 8/14/18 at 11:07pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I have a really crazy idea. Hear me out, everyone...what if...what if...rather than constantly cast women in traditionally male roles, we....hold on, just listen...produce more NEW works that have better roles for women?"

because it shuts women out of centuries of iconic, famous, and brilliant roles that are cultural touchstones in society?

And because no one is saying that it has to be one or the other? Do you go up to people marching for a cure for breast cancer and ask them why they don't care about cervical cancer?

For what it's worth, I think Sweeney has just the right mix of being informed by gender (in the sense that his motivations, impulses, etc are coded as masculine and in contrast to the female characters) without being about gender (in the same way that, say, a male Elle Woods wouldn't work, because legally blonde is in part about her navigating being female in the masculine world of Harvard). There's enough there to make the switch interesting, without making the plot meaningless. 

I'd watch it. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/14/18 at 11:25pm

Yes, it would be interesting. However, there’s just no reason for it. I’d see it for free, but not $150. Maybe if Beyonce was doing it.