Is a white person playing a role "of color"* considered racist? — Page 2

But, Phyllis, you yourself already pointed out that Hispanics can be of any race. An all-Anglo WSS is not the same as an all-white SHOW BOAT or FLOWER DRUM SONG.

Right. And just before that I pointed out that whites playing Hispanics isn't considered as egregious as white playing blacks. I'm not even sure why you directed your comment to me because I've said basically the same things Kad has said.

Phyllis, I wasn't picking a fight with you. I was responding to this post of yours:

But, like others have said, if you don't have a enough non-whites, should you be doing a show that hinges around the fact that some of the characters are not white?

...and reminding you that you yourself have already pointed out that "Hispanic" isn't a biological race, it's an ethnic heritage.

By your own argument ALL the characters in WSS might be Caucasian. Unlikely, perhaps, but not impossible. (I have spent some time in PR; I wasn't keeping score but almost everyone I met appeared to be white.)

I certainly agree with Kad that exaggerated caricatures of Latinos would be offensive, but we could say that about a lot of ethnicities.

Actually, never mind.

Updated On: 11/29/12 at 10:35 PM

Actually, never mind.

Phyllis, I apologize for addressing you as one adult to another. It really isn't my nature to carry a grudge, so I have trouble keeping track of these board quarrels that seem to go on for years at a time here at BWW.

Updated On: 11/30/12 at 03:51 AM

I'm only catergorizing it as my friend put it. I never thought it was considered racist until last night. Thank you My Oh My, that makes a lot of sense to me.

Updated On: 11/30/12 at 06:49 AM

Not only should one only cast actors who are of the precise same gender and ethnicity as the character as written by the playwright, the actor must also have the character's name.

So you can't just cast any Latina as Anita; you must find an actress who was born and raised specifically in Puerto Rico and whose name is Anita.

Otherwise, it's an insult to Puerto Rican actresses named Anita.

It's an interesting argument that morally "right" and "wrong" are not fixed.

Were Olivier and Anthony Hopkins evil when they applied dark make-up and played Othello? Was David Wayne evil when he played Sakini (and won a Tony for Best Actor) in Teahouse of the August Moon?

But I imagine that people would be marching and screaming if Daniel Day-Lewis (an actor noted for transforming from role to role, a highly-respected ability) tried either today.

There's a huge difference between performing a character of another race (or gender, or religion, or whatever) seriously, or as caricature. It seems that most people today are unable to recognize that difference. Being outraged is so much more fun than thinking.

I honestly think that skin color should be no more important than hair color. No one gets upset if a brunette gets cast as Marilyn Monroe and then dies her hair blonde or wears a wig to play the role. It's called acting -- and theatre. I pray for the day when people will get no more upset when an actor uses make up (really like donning a wig) to portray someone different from himself. I honestly the think the problem is with the people who want to make it a big issue -- when it shouldn't be an issue at all. But I'm well aware that many people totally disagree with that point of view.

By the way, I was reminded of a recent local story, when a second or third grader was supposed to pose and speak as a famous person, and a white boy chose Martin Luther King. Although no harm was meant and none of the kids were the least bit offended (yes there was a mix of black and white kids), when some parents got hold of the story -- all hell erupted. Too bad we can't all be as non-caring or as naive as those kids! Why should choosing a person of a different skin color and even adding make up to portray him be any different than a seven year old portraying a 60 year old and putting white in his hair to portray him?

Dollypop, you said that no Black tenor with the vocal and dramatic chops has come along and can play Othello. But opera singers don't just materialize fully formed on the stage of the Met, and your comment points to the fact that Black men might not be going through lessons and schools necessary to become opera singers, and maybe it's not even presented as a career option to the young men and boys who might have the talent and potential to have a career.

It's not racism on an individual level, because I seriously doubt most of us are sitting here saying "oh well Black men can't be operatic tenors," but on an institutional level, there's some form of racism or discrimination that's preventing the Black tenor perfectly well-suited to playing Othello from rising to prominence.

So, I think that the issue (offensive stereotypes aside) is not that a white person is playing a role of color, but that an actor of color is not, and might not be because there apparently isn't one of the caliber necessary, which then reaches back to access to arts and encouragement for lessons as children.

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No, its not, just like its not racist to have an all black cast of Streetcar Named Desire. Paralysis by Political Correctness.

^ Oh...my.

He's heavenly.

Didn't this get settled on Designing Women?!

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