LEMPICKA Previews — Page 14

https://playbill.com/article/amber-iman-on-readying-lempicka-while-advocating-for-black-women-on-broadway

 

^ this is interesting/answers some of the the questions being asked. Also details the ways Amber Iman has helped to flesh out the role since Williamstown (as I mentioned, the role itself is different in many ways - so much so that I find it difficult to compare the two performers who’ve played the part). I think they’re both wonderful. 

Broadway Flash said: "Well it’s a combination of things. She gave a whole speech about diversity when she won the Tony. The first person who played the role was white, and many have said did it better. I feel like it’s a trend now to cast black actors as the “liberal” character. Some like it hot, cabaret, lempicka, others. And the role she’s playing was a white woman who we see in the art.it can confuse people when you see the painting, and it’s a white woman. So yes, I happen to think casting a black woman in the role was intentional. I never said it was a bad thing."

Ok cool, heard and understood, but you don't have to keep going on about it. It's clearly not big enough to put you off attending these shows, so it's not that important to you. So just move on. 

Broadway Flash said: "Well it’s a combination of things. She gave a whole speech about diversity when she won the Tony. The first person who played the role was white, and many have said did it better. I feel like it’s a trend now to cast black actors as the “liberal” character. Some like it hot, cabaret, lempicka, others. And the role she’s playing was a white woman who we see in the art.it can confuse people when you see the painting, and it’s a white woman. So yes, I happen to think casting a black woman in the role was intentional. I never said it was a bad thing."

Reeve Carney being white was irrespective of his role. You can listen to the creatives of working through the project to find their perfect Orpheus that they got with Reeve and through him were able to bring the character together. You only have to look at how the show is cast on Broadway, tour, the UK that there's no singular vision for this show and they are all able to bring their own identities to the roles. 

What I think is amazing if you bringing up Amber Iman and comparing her to the painting as if Carmen Cusack looks at all like the painting! You think her being WHITE would make that less confusing? You also ignore casting a Lebanese guy as an Italian artist and Lempicka herself cast with a hispanic woman. So yes your focus on Amber Iman is in fact racist and your repeated gestures bringing it up only doubles down on that.