Norm Lewis as... "Triton" in Little Mermaid?- Page 2

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:03pm

FOAnatic,

I think you need start embracing theatre for its greatest asset: theatricality. If people wanted complete accuracy and realism, they would stick to Hollywood, but good theatre offers audiences something far more sepecial: A chance to use its imagination. The reason there is a certain magical energy to theatre is the second the audience steps into that sacred space that is the theatre, something primal lets them lower their defences and suspend disbeleif. It allows us to see a couch and a lamp as a full-blown living room set, it allows us to see puppets and costumes as exotic beasts and monsters, and it allows us to see characters who are not restricted or defined by the actors race, age, gender or type. Just because an actor is a certain race, temperment, body type, etc. doesn't necessarily mean the character they are playing is.

And also they haven't even cast Ariel yet...how do you now she's not black? And what if her mother is white?

Akiva

ps...the above wasn't meant to come of as snippy or mean. It was genuine.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:03pm

You have way too much time if you're worried about race in a musical like Little Mermaid. It's The Little Mermaid, for heaven's sake.

WHO CARES? Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:03 PM

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:03pm

I don't know, none of us have seen the production, read the script, or know for sure whose cast. FOA has a good point that its father/daughter, Fen has a good point that its a fairy tail. We'll have to see. I think its a good debate wether or not a black actor could work in this role.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:04pm

tail = a thing on the end of an animal's butt

tale = story

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:06pm

F*CK off, I know. :-P

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:06pm

The debate itself is racist. Having a problem with a person in a role solely based on their skin color is racist.

Period. End of Story. There's no getting around it, no verisimilitude arguments, they don't hold water. If you can't see past the skin color of a person, you're a racist.

Plain and simple.

[Craww]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:07pm

FOAnatic, if it bothers you so much just make up a backstory. King Triton's secret shame over needing sperm donations to carry on his line has made him especially self consciously over protective of the daughters he worked so hard to have.

Although, that's gotta make it especially stinging for blank shooter King Triton to still end up with no sons.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:07pm

Period. End of Story. There's no getting around it, no verisimilitude arguments, they don't hold water. If you can't see past the skin color of a person, you're a racist.

Thank you, Javert!

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:07 PM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:08pm

Ariel has been cast and she's not black.

PEOPLE NEED TO CALM DOWN!

Akiva, I've been in the theatre for years so please don't lecture me on theatricality. I have seen some great performances by African American actors playing a part created by a caucasian. Some of which surpassed their predecessor. And vice versa.

I'm not saying they can't handle it. I'm not saying that they shouldn't be doing it. I'm not even saying that their performance won't be wonderful.

What I'm saying is that, when it's not explained, I can't truly believe they're a family.

Not just in this show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:08pm

I just have one thing to say.

Evleyone's a ritter bit lacist.
Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:08 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:09pm

Thread calls for this guy.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:09pm

So, I see. A nontraditional family needs to EXPLAIN itself to you?

Wow. who died and left you racial hall monitor?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:10pm

oh my god

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:11pm

Ok. You mount a show with a non traditional family and NEVER explain to the audience how they ended up that way.

Oh, yea. That just spells HIT!

It's not racism if I ask for an explanation. It's asking for a well-developed story.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:12pm

Ok. You mount a show with a non traditional family and NEVER explain to the audience how they ended up that way.

Oh, yea. That just spells HIT!

Yeah, I mean, Les Miz really went downhill after Fuschia Walker joined the cast...

[TT]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:12pm

FOAnatic...you need to get a clue, honey...theatre is about recreating moments, scenes, life stories, whatever, in a creative way...it's about expanding your imagination and your reality...Ariel doesn't have to be white...it's a piece of fiction and even if she was white...who says she HAS to be...that's ridiculous...what a racist thing to assume...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:13pm

I NEVER SAID ARIEL HAS TO BE WHITE!

Stop putting words in my mouth.

All I said was she HAS been cast and she IS white.

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:14pm

THANK YOU YANKEE!

I hate these threads, thoughts fly around, Fenchurch calls one to several people racist, its a mess!!!

I don't think the point is racist. FOA has re-itterated SEVERAL times its the family issue. I'm inclined to compare it to the skinny/fat Effie debate, its a story issue, and most people feel its not a big deal. I know its more sensetive than that, which is unfortunate. I think in some ways our sensetivity shows how rampant racism still is. I don't nessasarily aggree, but I see the logic and I'm not going to call it racist.

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:14 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:14pm

Not when the explanation isn't integral to the story. You're supposed to take it as read that Triton is Ariel's father. It's never called into question, so why should you call it into question?
The producers don't think it's a problem, just a bunch of other small minded people.

This casting is going to tank the show. If it's a problem for you, then you're more than welcome to put on a white sheet and protest in front of the theater, or in frony of Disney's offices.

[Craww]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:14pm

It's asking for a well-developed story.

But that's not the story they're going to tell with the Little Mermaid. There are dozens of ways a multiracial family can happen. Think of your favorite and insert it somewhere in your understanding of the show. It doesn't need to be developed on stage because that's not the story they're there to tell.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:16pm

If it's a problem for you, then you're more than welcome to put on a white sheet and protest in front of the theater, or in frony of Disney's offices.

That statement has shown this whole board just how low you are. You have no idea who I am or what I'm like as a person.

You are a poor excuse for a human being.

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:16 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:17pm

Agreed, Foa. Accusations of racism are extremely unwarrented. Your comments aren't out of line, they are perfectly justified.

However:

"This casting is going to tank the show."

Believe me, it's not the casting that's gonna tank this show.

Norm Lewis, Sherie Rene Scott, Sierra Bogess, Titus Burgess are all great.

What some people seem to forget:

NONE OF THEM ARE CONFIRMED!
Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:17 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:17pm

I'm gonna go lie down now...

[Craww]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:18pm

Don't worry about Fenchurch, FOAnatic. They've gone so clearly overboard that it seems more like they're arguing an ironic Devil's advocate argument against colorblind casting.

[javertjunky]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:18pm

Can we please get back to NORM LEWIS and not a racial arguement?!?!