Les Miz Casting

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 7:10am

Is it only me who find it intriguing they have a black Fantine but a white Cosette and a black Eponine? When you see the Fantine is Race A and The Thenardiers are Race B, but instead Cosette is Race B and Eponine is Race A, it's very natural for someone to think maybe Valjean got the wrong kid. 

Updated On: 1/19/16 at 07:10 AM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 7:34am

If you can suspend your belief enough to think that a criminal can become a mayor of a city and not get noticed immediately by his old warden, why can't you suspend your racistly tinged comment? Are your just trying out some stand up? It isn't working.

[Dave19]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 7:35am

I recently watched some kind of "happy 2016" clip on youtube of the current cast of Les Mis. It seems that 75 % of the cast is black.

There clearly wasn't enough white talent to be found, so I don't mind, but it is kind of interesting, considering only 12% of the population is black.

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 7:42am

CindersGolightly said: "If you can suspend your belief enough to think that a criminal can become a mayor of a city and not get noticed immediately by his old warden, why can't you suspend your racistly tinged comment? Are your just trying out some stand up? It isn't working.

 

"

It's totally okay that they cast actors from different racial backgrounds, on condition that the casting makes sense. In this case, I don't have a qualm about they casting a black or yellow or white Cosette considering we do not know who Cosette's father is. But we know Eponine's parents are both white, and it makes little sense to have a black Eponine.

And no, not every comment that has a color word or that mentions a race is a "racistly tinged comment"

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 07:42 AM

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 7:48am

Dave19 said: "I recently watched some kind of "happy 2016" clip on youtube of the current cast of Les Mis. It seems that 75 % of the cast is black.

 

There clearly wasn't enough white talent to be found, so I don't mind, but it is kind of interesting, considering only 12% of the population is black.

 

 

 

"

 

What about Asians? 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:09am

If you're going to start a really stupid thread, at least spell Eponine correctly.

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:16am

The Broadway Les Miz revival had cast Nikki James (who won a Tony for her female lead role in Book of Mormon), a black actress as Eponine when it first opened and she looked fine in the role. Now I thought she was miscast in the Les Miz role, her voice was so high-pitched and irritating (but that's not the current topic)

 

The current West End Fantine (Rachelle Ann Go) is Asian and she is going to play Fantine in the international  tour starting in Manila in March.  The show also just cast Eva Noblezada (American of Filipino/Mexican descent) as Eponine (after her run as Kim in Miss Saigon ends in February and before she comes back to the US to play Kim on Broadway in 2017 begins)

 

With shows being works of art I think it is fine there is a suspension of disbelief!  I love how the Founding Fathers are played by such a diverse group of performers in Hamilton!

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 08:16 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:19am

This time, cindersgolightly is 100% correct.

 

It's a racist comment, as is dave19's.

[Dave19]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:30am

It's not racist. It's just really interesting that black people are so much more talented than caucasian/white/other races.

 

Let's say 150 people auditioned for Les Mis. Let's say 12% of the participants were black. That is about 18 black people versus 132 caucasian/white/other races.

That would mean they hired nearly every black person that came to audition.Versus not even 5 % of other races.

 

Which would be, quite frankly, "impossible" if the casting was done based purely on talent and in a color blind way. No percentage can be so extreme.

 

Sounds like too much focus on black from the casting directors to me, in other words, racism.

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 08:30 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:38am

http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/CurrentCast/14020/Les-Misrables-at-Imperial-Theatre

 

Just a quick scan through their headshot does not in any way suggest that 75% of the cast is black. Just of the 9 principal roles alone only 3 are black. Last time I took a math class 1/3 did not equal 75%.

[Dave19]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:45am

That was based on the Les Mis video I saw. 

1 out of 3 (not even including the ensemble), is still bizarre and highly unlikely if done in a truthful way.

Very forced, considering the amount of all other races auditioning compared to the percentage.

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 08:45 AM

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:46am

It's not all talent (of course that helps a lot!) but also who you know and what the producers want. If they want to attract a more diverse audience, then they hire a more diverse cast!  For example Rachelle and Eva were cast  by Cameron Mckintosh for Miss Saigon, he will be more inclined to get them for Les Miz. They still have to audition of course (to show they have the chops for the show and these two ladies are very talented!) How many Asian (or of Spanish/Asian) do you think auditioned for thise roles?! They were most likely invited to audition too!

 

 

And why is it forced, how do you know that is the actual percentage of people auditioning?! Eventually I'd like to see black Thenadiers why not?! As for the ensemble, townsfolk and revolutionaries they can be of any race.

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 08:46 AM

[Odie2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 9:03am

perhaps i am naive but why does every comment that mentions race is assumed to have an automatic racist overtones by the responders on this  board? The op asked a questions that makes sense and for someone reason any dialog or questions that is asked on this board is shut down and the poster is automatically deemed racists. 

To the op question, while one can suspend belief, in this show it is difficult. While I enjoyed Kyle Scatlif performance I did not enjoy Wallace smith, but enjoras is a character introduced to us as adult so his race does not matter. it is difficult for the audience to suspend belief when Eponine and Cossette are introduced as CHILDREN and there is no continuity. in addition, the directors took away the year lapse. So unless you are very familiar with the story it can be very difficult. 

There is a limit to how much someone should suspend belief, we go to shows (that we can't really afford) to get away from reality. So please call me a Racist and other demeaning word because I'd prefer not to suspend belief.  I know what is my heart and as JVJ "you know nothing of my life"

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 9:39am

So you go to a show to escape reality, and then can't handle it when the show is not realistic?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 9:49am

Not to mention that since the original production, the child versions and the adult versions of the characters didn't look alike....particay with hair color.  (A brunette as a child, a blonde aft for example)  

 

That didn't seem to effect any understanding. Really no different, really.

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 09:49 AM

[rodrigo_ca]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 12:16pm

ebontoyan said: "The current West End Fantine (Rachelle Ann Go) is Asian and she is going to play Fantine in the international  tour starting in Manila in March. "

Just to go a bit off-topic in here: WHY do they keep calling it "world tour" if in reality it's all in Asia? The Phantom World Tour didn't even came close to America or even Europe. I recall that several years back Cats and Billy Elliot came here to Brazil and it was very sucessful (there was even added subtitles! to a live performance!). That's really unfair.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 12:17pm

Odie2 said: "perhaps i am naive but why does every comment that mentions race is assumed to have an automatic racist overtones by the responders on this  board?"

 

Not every comment that mentions race has a racist overtone. Or undertone, rather. Just the racist ones do. And that's what this thread is based on. A racist thought that OP thought would be funny. Just like that fad that's going around on here where someone dreamcasts Caitlyn Jenner in a role just to be edgy and 'relevant'. Forget the offensive qualities, these jokes aren't even crafted well. Like, please tell me, what in the world did you want to get out of this thread? Really, what did you want people to say?

 

"You're so RIGHT!!! LUL!! Fantine must have gotten around xD man I love this site. :3 Panini is my dream role."

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 12:42pm

CindersGolightly said: "Odie2 said: "perhaps i am naive but why does every comment that mentions race is assumed to have an automatic racist overtones by the responders on this  board?"

 

 

 

Not every comment that mentions race has a racist overtone. Or undertone, rather. Just the racist ones do. And that's what this thread is based on. A racist thought that OP thought would be funny. Just like that fad that's going around on here where someone dreamcasts Caitlyn Jenner in a role just to be edgy and 'relevant'. Forget the offensive qualities, these jokes aren't even crafted well. Like, please tell me, what in the world did you want to get out of this thread? Really, what did you want people to say?

 

 

 

"You're so RIGHT!!! LUL!! Fantine must have gotten around xD man I love this site. :3 Panini is my dream role."

 

 

 

"

What really shocks me is the cheap assumptions you take. Do I have to post something with a hidden agenda? Think about this. When you talk with your friends about something interesting you find, do you really expect their "Wows" and "Nice catch" or sometime you just want to share your thoughts with other people? And how is asking something to be reasonable a racist thing? Artistic license aside, for most people who have never seen les Miz before, who I assume this production targets, the Cosette / Eponine thing will seem rather confusing. Also, nothing I said implies one race is better than another. If that's what you mean by "racist."

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 1:10pm

Sorry, I forgot that a black woman and a white man can't equal a white daughter. As you said, we don't know Cosette's father. Genetics fly out the door, here. It's COMPLETELY plausible to me. Perhaps answer accusations of racism with "I'm sorry, how do you think I was being racist? I'd like to know so I can stop." INSTEAD of "You're wrong and here's why." Responses to racist claims really show a lot of ones character. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 1:38pm

CindersGolightly said: "Sorry, I forgot that a black woman and a white man can't equal a white daughter. As you said, we don't know Cosette's father. Genetics fly out the door, here. It's COMPLETELY plausible to me. Perhaps answer accusations of racism with "I'm sorry, how do you think I was being racist? I'd like to know so I can stop." INSTEAD of "You're wrong and here's why." Responses to racist claims really show a lot of ones character. 

 

"

I would really stop if you stop attacking my character and making unjust accusations. If the personality that you deem "right" is being subdued and resisting urges to voice thoughts to a certain degree, sorry that's never who I am or want to be. And if that's what the society is aiming at, I believe it would take infinity for the LGBTQ+ community to get where it is right now, if still not good enough. My person skills are indeed not good, but if you think that equals terrible personality, perhaps PR department is where you can find angels.

 

With regards to the genetic thing, this thread proves that there are still people out thinking the same thing as I do. So it'll be a stretch to say what I brought up pointless.

 

And FYI, I'm not white. I see no point arguing if you insist that I'm no good, whatever the specific argument is, and you are certainly entitled to your opinions. Have a nice day, sir.

 

Updated On: 1/18/16 at 01:38 PM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 1:47pm

White doesn't equal not racist sweetie! :)

[Odie2]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 1:58pm

CindersGolightly said: "White doesn't equal not racist sweetie! :)

 

Trying to have an adult conversation is not racist. Labeling people and calling them names for trying have a dialogue is bullying and offensive 

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 2:10pm

Please re-read all of my messages. I called their statement racistly tinged. Only after they defended it instead of engaging in a conversation with me did I assume that they were racist. Sorry but it was an idiotic thing to say, and frankly I'm not going to stand for it. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 2:19pm

Dave19 said: "There clearly wasn't enough white talent to be found, so I don't mind, but it is kind of interesting, considering only 12% of the population is black."

12% of the population of where? France in 1832?

[SweetLips]

Posted: 1/18/16 at 2:39pm

I never enter into any discussion like this as I don't have the intelligence to debate with many here but the replies got me to look up the word 'racist'-----'a person who believes that a particular race is SUPERIOR to another'. When that becomes integral to your message-then you are one, and didn't see that happening here.

 

SL.....x