Mother Courage at CSC- Page 3

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:03pm

Sure, that's true. I just meant that based on the information given in the posted article.... it appeared that the artistic director wanted it to be a general situation and Tonya Pinkins wanted it to be specific. I'm making assumptions based on very little information, which is obviously foolish. 

Additionally... She's quoting as saying "My Mother Courage was left speechless, powerless, history-less..." " a delusional woman trying to do the impossible" Which I thought, to some extent, was the point of Mother Courage.

Curious as to what everyone else thinks.

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 05:03 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:03pm

I live almost 3,000 miles from where this dispute took place, but in the AP article, Ms. Pinkins comes across as a spoiled diva who doesn't realize that even if you have a Tony Award, it is your job to serve the director's vision of a play. Actors should of course (politely) discuss any differences of interpretation with their director, but ultimately, it's the director's decision, not the actor's.

 

Furthermore, although taking a "white" play and resetting it in Africa (with a white director with a black cast) was inevitably going to result in some tricky conversations in the rehearsal room, it seems that Ms. Pinkins is simply playing the "race card" in order to abandon a production she knows is a bomb. A real professional would have stuck it out until the end. Shame on her.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:06pm

Double post.

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 05:06 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:09pm

Kad said: "Setting Mother Courage in a realistic depiction of the Congo- or any location- isn't what the play is about, and isn't the play Brecht wrote. "

That's a valid contention. What we (or at least I) don't know is who stepped into that trap. If (as it seems) Kulick chose to set it in Africa with a black Courage, then did he inherently violate what you say about the play? And if that is the case, it is not surprising that the black actor he employed to dress his set would want to own her blackness. Perhaps there is another side to this that is eluding me but that's what I am seeing here. Regardless, I think Pal Joey summed it up best: tis a mess.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:18pm

Granted, the information in the AMNY article is limited, but the vibe I was getting from it was that Pinkins wanted a realistic, deep portrayal of the setting Kulick imposed. I think both sides are wrong here- there's no reason to impose such a contemporary, politically-loaded setting on a play that doesn't comment on it, but if that is imposed you can't act as though you're starring in Ruined.

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 05:18 PM

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:20pm

Agreed! On all fronts. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:20pm

More power to her. If a director is screwing with a classic -- get out.

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 05:20 PM

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:35pm

Again, she was clearly wanting the classic to be screwed with. Power to no one. 

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:40pm

Looks like she doesn't get Brecht and definitely doesn't get the powerlessness of Mother Courage. Sounds like she needs to wait for a bio-drama of Oprah to come out and then politic for the role. I'd be interested to hear the truth from Ms. Dukakis.  

[trentsketch]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 5:59pm

I believe she was speaking metaphorically when she wrote the director neutered Mother Courage and left her powerless and delusional. I believe that was Tonya Pinkins saying the director was trying so hard to micromanage and control her actions as an actor, leaving her with no agency or power as an actor to give the kind of performance she is capable of. She means her performance was left with no agency to engage with the revised setting in a way that felt true to her as an African American performer.

 

The TL: DR snarky reading is white director demanded his black actors parrot back his interpretation of what it's like to struggle to survive in a war-torn African nation.

 

There might be artistic value in this vision, but clearly communication failed here.

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 05:59 PM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 6:42pm

Why is Tonya surprised at this being filtered through the white gaze CSC is easily the worst theater in new york when it comes to diversity, this is what the first all black production they have ever done in like 40+ years right?

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 06:42 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 7:30pm

Awkward that they're going to have to change the key art as well since Tonya's face is inside Africa.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 8:05pm

LightsOut90 said: "Why is Tonya surprised at this being filtered through the white gaze CSC is easily the worst theater in new york when it comes to diversity, this is what the first all black production they have ever done in like 40+ years right?"

all black≠diversity

I don't think they are some paragon of diversity but they are also not as bad as you make them out to be.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 8:23pm

HogansHero said: "Kad said: "Setting Mother Courage in a realistic depiction of the Congo- or any location- isn't what the play is about, and isn't the play Brecht wrote. "

 

That's a valid contention. What we (or at least I) don't know is who stepped into that trap. If (as it seems) Kulick chose to set it in Africa with a black Courage, then did he inherently violate what you say about the play? And if that is the case, it is not surprising that the black actor he employed to dress his set would want to own her blackness. "

Good points both. Whoever's idea the Congo was, Kulick's perhaps?, then that is the root of the problem. By hiring Tonya to portray an African situation, she wanted it to represent her roots. Why is that being a diva? 

I'm not sure Kulick understands Brecht or what Tonya is mad about, judging by this statement:

http://www.classicstage.org/blog/2015/12/30/director-brian-kulicks-response-to-tonya-pinkins-leaving-mother-courage-and-her-children/

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:26pm

Walking out on a production is the very definition of unprofessionalism. It's diva behavior on the most disgusting level.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:26pm

After reading her full statement I'm not sure she was wrong in her opinion. 

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:34pm

After reading her full statement I'm not sure she will ever work again. Her comments regarding RASHEEDA SPEAKING were rather acerbic.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:39pm

Her full statement is enlightening and her departure is clearly the result of a lot of soul searching and her lack of power. I am happy my previous comment was false. This is why she is one of my favorite actress of all time.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:44pm

South Fl Marc said: "Walking out on a production is the very definition of unprofessionalism. It's diva behavior on the most disgusting level."

Did you even read Tonya's statement that was just posted? Check your white privilege. 

I agree with her leaving the production after being treated that way. And Brian Kulick seems completely incompetent. I'm with Tonya. 

Updated On: 12/30/15 at 09:44 PM

[JackiesBroJoe]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:46pm

I fully support Tonya after reading that full statement. Also, anyone else notice that Brian Kulick's "statements" are mostly quotes from THE EMPTY SPACE? LOL. 

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 9:58pm

I make a statement about my thoughts on an actress walking out on her contract and you bring up " white privileges"?. Pathetic. Directors and actors have disagreements all the time. 

I stand by my statement, walking out of a production is unprofessional. I just feel sorry for the rest of the cast who are only pawns in this ridiculous drama 

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 10:18pm

I have been reading this thread and I don't think anyone has brought this up... why would her contract be up on Jan 3 if they aren't even opening until Jan 7th? Doesn't make sense to me. I have seen other productions directed by Mr. Kulick and he seems like a fine director to me. I am sure he isn't a theatrical moron. I don't think she should have brought Olympia Dukakis into the article, even if she did invite her to watch. I don't like the racial tone of any of this either.

[NewsiesForever]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 10:41pm

South Fl Marc said: "I make a statement about my thoughts on an actress walking out on her contract and you bring up " white privileges"?. Pathetic. Directors and actors have disagreements all the time. 

 

I stand by my statement, walking out of a production is unprofessional. I just feel sorry for the rest of the cast who are only pawns in this ridiculous drama 

Here, Here. Pinkens is being a drama queen. And I feel bad for mess that her 'issues' have created for the cast and crew

"

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 10:46pm

this point has been made several times in this thread, in several different ways (once by me), but ultimately the responsibility always falls on the director, especially where, as here, he is also in essence the producer. Setting the merits aside, the obligation of a producer and director in relation to a star (especially one who is clearly the raison d'être of a production, is to articulate the "vision" and flesh out any concerns rather than assuming they'll work out in the wash. And as to "professionalism," I see it quite the opposite: a professional is someone with integrity, who doesn't do work that they can't represent.Would that there were more such professionals. Oh, and by the way, the theatre is not a plantation...

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 12/30/15 at 10:50pm

ClydeBarrow said: "After reading her full statement I'm not sure she will ever work again. Her comments regarding RASHEEDA SPEAKING were rather acerbic.

 

"

^ This.