wait til some local TV news reporter gets a hold of this during sweeps month ... remember the protests over miss saigon? a tea party by comparison if this thing goes nuclear. and unlike miss saigon, the public's only ever going to see one side to this story.
"I personally think James Barbour is a phenomenal leading man and if this conviction stops him from performing again on Broadway it would be a real shame. I do, however, see the NY Post continuing its vendetta against him so I fear that the producers may buckle to pressure if the NY Post continues their hysterical tirade."
Don't place the blame on the Post. This went far beyond the NY Post, and was a national news story, reported in a number of media outlets, and on television.
It's going to hurt the show, regardless if there are pickets, because of its target audience. Think about it. It's a show based on a classic book that is required reading for most, if not all, high school kids in this country. Like Les Mis and other shows based on classic books, it's going to attract a ton of school groups. High school teachers love being able to tie in their curricula to live productions, and ATTC can go with English, French or history classes.
But do you want to take your students to see a show where the main actor--portrayed as a hero onstage--is a sex offender? As a parent, do you want your kid to attend a talkback where he or she gets to know said sex offender? If you're the production staff, how do you promote the show and the actors while circumventing that little issue? Schools and youth groups objected in Florida; they will here too.
Regardless of how you feel about the case, it does cast a pall over the situation.
And I can't say I blame them. If I were an actor, I'd quit the show to avoid working with Barbour. If my daughter were playing Lucie, I'd pull her from the show without looking back. He's a great talent but he's not irreplaceable, and I'd rather see the work going to another actor who isn't, you know, a predator.
James Barbour is NOT a predator, or a pedophile, or a molester! He will not be in any "sex offender" list, as per the outcome of the case. Look at the facts that came out in his arraingment day(which sadly, apparently because of the "gag" order, did not come out before). Let's STOP those comments here!--he was just unfortunate enough to get a rap like this from some unscrupulous "ladder climber" who decided, for some reason that I am sure she is profiting from in some way, to accuse him 5 years later(maybe even out of spite!). There are too many questionable factors in this case, and I think it is a shame that people keep repeating what a tabloid like the NY Post and others have done, so irresponsibly, from the get go of this case(in cases like this, the "victim" will always have the "edge" on the accussed). Perhaps if more people started giving him the support he needs at the moment, instead of making absurd and tasteless jokes about his situation(just think if it happenned to YOU), and perpetuating negative vibes, others will start realizing what a sad thing has been done to this talented and, yes, decent, guy. If I was acting with him, I would have no problem at all. If I was a parent--what in the world do people actually think he is going to do to a child actor...? He is not only in the spotlight aboput this right now, but it is just ABSURD to think he would do anything! As a parent, if your child has contact with him, and you have concerns, then it is up to you to advise your child about it, and intelligently separate the man from the performer. He SHOULD not be limited in his work at all. This matter has done enough damage to his life already. I happen to have seen him in "Tale", and he WAS undeniably notches above all the rest(and the cast WAS extremely talented!). If the producers were to give in to pressure from ignorant judgements, then they will be at a great loss, and "Tale" might not do as well as it did in Sarasota. There was a special magic around Barbour as the lead there(as a note, he has been committed to this show since 2004). I think the producers are reasonable and just enough to know better, and I wish them the success they deserve, as well as Barbour, for his labor of love for this musical, sticking to it and bringing it to theatrical excellence.
Interesting that you're only commenting on threads about the case...hello Mr. Barbour!
Decent men do not have sexual contact with minors. Period. As per the facts of the trial, which are not from the Post, he admitted he knew the girl's age before inviting her to his room and initiating contact.He admitted what he did. So the girl's a villain because she came forward and made him account for it? There was also a second girl who came forward. He had a fancy lawyer that was able to get him a nice sentence, but that doesn't mitigate what he did. He's still been convicted on sex offense charges.
As for the social climbing--FYI, saying "I'm a sexual abuse survivor" doesn't really impress casting directors. Really. Since this girl fought to be anonymous, it's safe to say she's not in it for the publicity. And I've never seen anyone launch an acting career out of it. It's a lot more likely to lead to years of therapy, self-injury, PTSD and lowered self-esteem. Visit Rainn.org sometime and read up on it.
I'm not concerned about the damage done to him. I'm concerned about the damage he's done to others.
To maronaDavies: No, I am just a fan of "Tale' and of Mr Barbour, so perhaps that is what sparks my interest? And I am NOT apologizing for it either... Perhaps you should read other comments from posters(try the one from Daily News, a reporter who was at his sentencing) who share my views on the FACTS(Lizzie, maybe this can serve as your "citation"?) I never said anything about the scenerios you pointed out about how this case will not help this woman profit--I simply said, she DEFINITELY has an agenda!(what it is, it has not been shown yet, but there is something to this). You don't wait around 5 years, and then accuse someone whom you kept in touch with( she e-mailed with him for 4 years after the incident...), helped you in your career, AND never touched you again after he realized his unethical behaviour, even though he could have(and never actually had "real" sex with her(...ask Clinton). His admissions are debatable(I read some comments from a friend who said he had no choice but incriminate himself or go to trial "unprepared"(although I question his lawyer here, since this has been going on for 2 years, you would think his lawyers could have done better). Also, there have been more than one witness commenting that the case from California was started by a spiteful "third" party, and NOT the girl at all--his friend commented that the girl and her Mom would have testified in HIS favor...which is why I would have gone to trial if I had been him(WHICH by the way, I am not!). However, he seems to be broke now, and lawyers do not work for free, so he took the quickest way out of this sad mess, to keep on with his life. And, Lizzie, it's NOT SF. It is Sarasota Fan, where I had the priviledge of travelling to and seeing this amazing and engaging production. I, and the sold out Sarasota crowds, can vouch for what a worthwhile theater event this will be. The sets, costuming, direction, music, ALL worked and was an above average commendable piece of theater. I think Jill Santorielo's muscic also needs to be heard--it is an emotionally charged, and fantastic piece of work...I have not heard anything original like this for a long time! I have the original recording, which is great, but I think when they record Barbour, of course Toro, and hopefully the same original cast(pending Derek?), it will be far superior, and reach a larger audience. I heard many in Sarasota disappointed that the actors they had just seen and heard perform were not in the tape, so many are waiting this release.
You know, you could have more RESPECT for someones' deceased mother. This comment is a bit out of line here--don't bring people into this who do not need to be part of your irony or fanatically biased comments. i think moderators should take notice...parenthesis are of the least importance here, except for what they contain inside...
It's not at all uncommon for victims to wait years, even decades, before coming forward. And her motives are irrelevant. It still doesn't excuse his behavior. He did it, he got caught. It's his crime, not hers.
Nope, not his wife either--why do I HAVE to be someone else instaed of who I AM? I just hate onsided injustice. And, I won't repeat myself, and that goes for her course of behaviour...NOT "victim" like for the 4 yaers following the alleged "abuse"(yeah, right...!). BTW, ANYONE can actually read about the case, and find out that his Mom had just died months prior to this woman accusing him, which is what lead him to believe she was after his money, since he had just inherited a large sum of money from his mother. As a matter of tastea and ethics, it is best to leave people's Moms, deceased or NOT, out any comments made towards that person. Pick on something else if you must.
here's the bottom line, dude: those comments ARENT going to stop. and the show is going to pay the price for that if he's cast in it.
we can all go back and forth til the messiah comes about the merits of the situation, but the 10-second sound bite starts: convicted child sex offender james barbour to star in ...
TOTCSF1: You sound like a rambling idiot. You have lost all credibility. Be gone.
I think this whole James Barbour thing is unfortunate, and as much as I would like to see him back on Broadway - I highly doubt that the producers are going to risk millions of dollars on him. I would be VERY surprised if he actually came to New York.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
