Posted: 8/3/16 at 9:58pm
Toni Colette would make an incredible Desiree.
Posted: 8/3/16 at 10:37pm
Someone in a Tree2 said: "Ok I'll bite if no-one else will-- Remind me again why we're doing an all-black casting of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Certainly any one of the actors you mentioned could be brilliant in those roles, but what does a production of ALNM gain by being treated like Merrick's '67 production of HELLO DOLLY with Pearl Bailey and company? Do we understand the class structure of Belle Epoque Sweden any better for it? I'm at a loss."
Yeah...when I see A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC I always worry I'm not getting an authentic Belle Epoque Sweden experience. I mean, it is clear that Sondheim and Wheeler were practically writing a documentary of Swedish culture at the time.
Posted: 8/3/16 at 10:58pm
I don't get the sarcasm here. If I see a production of MY FAIR LADY, I expect to see a representation of 1912 London. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF? It better express a sense of Shtetl life in Tzarist Russia circa 1905. COMPANY? If it does't capture a sense of upper middle class life in Manhattan circa 1970 (or alternately circa 2016), it fails on some level. Why should A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC be exempt from that basic standard?
Posted: 8/3/16 at 11:02pm
At its core, A Little Night Music doesn't really have much to do with Swedish society. I mean, obviously it's set there, but it's not a commentary on Sweden at that time in the way that My Fair Lady is a commentary on English society. A Little Night Music is more or less a romantic comedy, not a statement on Swedish society. Casting black actors in any or all of the roles maybe doesn't help us understand the Belle Epoque of Sweden (which I seriously doubt anyone seeing it knows or cares about) but as long a story about love and loss and longing is told well, the casting of actors of color is of no consequence.
Posted: 8/3/16 at 11:09pm
I don't have a problem with a mixed cast, but an all black cast is a little ridiculous. I just don't understand the point.
Posted: 8/3/16 at 11:57pm
icecreambenjamin said: "I don't have a problem with a mixed cast, but an all black cast is a little ridiculous. I just don't understand the point.
Why is it any more "ridiculous" than doing the show with an all white cast?
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:14am
Because an all white cast would probably be historically acturate, while an all black cast is just for gimmick.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:16am
Oh dear. Please quit while you're ahead.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:18am
I'd rather have an all black cast than a mixed white/black cast. No offence to white people (and I say this as a white person), but black people seem to have a more interesting vocal timbre than white people generally speaking. I want to hear a fresh take on all the songs.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:22am
As someone who is half black, I find the blackwashing of shows to be offensive. They weren't given the role because of their talent, but because the director wanted to do something "experimental." So no, I don't want a black exploitation production of A Little Night Music.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 12:37am
I'd rather see Leslie Uggams as Desiree
Posted: 8/4/16 at 2:41am
When we will ever see a transgender drag queen lesbian Muslim version, when people when!!!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 3:03am
Maybe when that religion becomes more welcoming of transgendered people :P.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 4:19am
icecreambenjamin said: "As someone who is half black, I find the blackwashing of shows to be offensive. They weren't given the role because of their talent, but because the director wanted to do something "experimental." So no, I don't want a black exploitation production of A Little Night Music."
...you find black actors being employed offensive??
I think an all-black Night Music could be terrific. plus, what do you mean "historically accurate"? the story is fiction. there are no historical characters.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 6:37am
I. Can't. Even.
It's not worth the time trying to formulate a response to his nonsense.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 6:41am
The line re: not given the role based on talent also doesn't make much sense. Are you suggesting they just take the first black actor through the door without any audition? Of course they would be cast based on more criteria than simply the colour of their skin. It would hypothetically be a necessary but not sufficient condition.
Updated On: 8/4/16 at 06:41 AM
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:06am
What I'm saying is that there is no relevance to casting an all black cast to this show. There wouldn't be any new layers found in the show. I would rather see black actors beat white actors for a role, then see them essentially recieve a role just because the director wanted to do something "new." I would rather see Brian Stokes Mitchell recieve the role over a white actor because he gave the better audition and not because he was the go to African American low male voice (He is a bass right? I think). While Leslie Uggams and Brian Stokes Mitchell would both be wonderful, I think the idea of an all black cast for this show is hilariously bad.
Yeah the show is fiction, but how many poc are in Fiddler or My Fair Lady. They just weren't in these groups at the time. I would love to see a nice mix of people onstage, but I just don't know why we need an all black cast of a show that would find no relevance in having an all black cast. Does it heighten the material? No. Does it find an inner meaning at it's core? No. So why do it?
That being said, if they did do an all black cast of A Little Night Music, I would see it and probably love it and would be happy to see so many black actors have jobs, but I really do feel as if most black actors recieve roles simply because the role is black. I really want to see more color blind casting out there. I want to be able to compete with people of every race for a role.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:12am
Leslie Uggams is 73. Come on people. Desiree is the mother of a young daughter.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:15am
Yeah, without your affirmative action casting, that hack Audra McDonald would never get roles.
Uggams is far too old to headline a major revival, but I am fairly certain she's done the regionally, as recently as the last couple of years.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:30am
Leslie Uggams played Desiree at Michigan Opera Theatre in 2009, opposite Ron Raines as Fredrik. Here's a clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qhHwawOKo&feature=channel
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:33am
My memory half works! I knew she'd done it before but can't believe it was 7 years ago. Yikes!
Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:56am
Speaking of Audra, why not her for Desiree?
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:03am
she did?? damn! I live and southeast Michigan (and have attended several operas there, even around 2008 or so) and never heard about that!
icecream, Fiddler is a show that I can understand them non casting POC (although I hear the show was hugely popular in Japan) because the story has to do with their Jewishness.
My Fair Lady on the other hand, I think would be fantastic with a diverse or even all-black cast. (it's actually one of my wishes that Audra McDonald would have played Eliza in a mid-late 90's revival because I think she could have been superb.) Nothing in that shown in this day and ages screams (to me) that it must only be a white Eliza and a white Higgins and a white Pickering.
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:30am
Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:32am
Fiddler is a show that I can understand them non casting POC (although I hear the show was hugely popular in Japan) because the story has to do with their Jewishness.
Fiddler on the Roof is hugely popular around the world and has been performed by casts of all ethnic make-ups. The themes of family, faith and tradition transcend specific races and cultures.
Updated On: 8/4/16 at 08:32 AM
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
