Norm Lewis as Javert

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:40pm

First off let me begin this post by saying it is in no way racist or prejudiced. I am curious how color blind casting can be implemented for the revival of Les Miserables. Historical accuracy would have prohibited an african-american as being a policeman in Paris of the time period. DOes this mean in all fairness a caucasian female whould be allowed to play the Nell Carter part in an Aint Misbehavin' revival? This is just something I was thinking about. Color blind casting vs. accuracy in work that is trying to be portrayed as real. I think Norm Lewis is incredible, but I havent made up my mind that is proper casting. In a business where appearance is everything, and people lose jobs for being two inches two tall/short, how can such a blatant disregard to accuracy be made?

[DiamondGirl]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:50pm

This debate has come up many times, but it isn't really new for Les Mis. The previous Broadway cast/tour had instances of not-so-accurate color-blind casting as well. I don't think a black Javert is harder to believe than a little white Eponine who grows up to be Asian.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:53pm

Lol...too funny...I could buy an African American Phantom, for instance. The Phantom as a small boy was in a traveling freak show, and could be of any ethnicity from any part of the world. THAT I would be fine with. Im sure Mr. Lewis will be incredible and I look forward to seeing it, just one of those things that make you go hmmmm. If it was Les Miz in concert I could buy it, but not on the Rue..lol

[luvliza89]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:55pm

Does accuracy matter all that much if the performer can do thier job? If an audience can suspend thier belief to sit in a theatre, watch people on stage, and see a story unfold, is accuracy in skin color that much more difficult to digest? I doubt maybe people would even stop an notice or care. I know I wouldn't.
Updated On: 7/7/06 at 04:55 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:58pm

If they really cared about accuracy (hey, maybe race is not an issue in the show), you'd never have seen surnames like Wilkinson, McCarthy, Kaarina, Patterson, Hernandez, James, Ragavelas, or whatnot in the cast, because they'd have obviously strived to look for actors of actual French descent.

Please.

Race matters in some shows, but not all. This is an example of the latter.


And, ineveitably, Norm Lewis is going to be linked to this guy

Updated On: 7/7/06 at 04:58 PM

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:58pm

I don't think it's that hard if you just have an imagination...I know many people reject that notion but I remember I had an african american Eponine and a white lil eponine and it didn't bother me. It's the beauty of theater...we can get away with it where as film is trickier

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 4:58pm

In a show where color matters in the least, then yes, I would agree with you (for example, just picture it: Norm Lewis as Ruteledge in 1776! He could sing the hell out of Molassess to Rum, but come on). I don't think it matters at all in Les Mis, so I'm perfectly fine with it.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:00pm

I guess I lack an imagination. Because seeing a black Javert in London was truly disturbing and I spent the entire time wondering why they feared him, seeing as how a black man would never have had that power.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:04pm

I am fine with it, too. It was just something I was thinking about. In response to the post about " if a performer can do his job." Auditions in New York are flooded with MORE than capable talent to fill roles, that CONSISTENTLY lose jobs because of appearance...ht/wt/look, etc. But I am sorry I can't see an African American in the role of Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest anymore than an african american police lieutenant in 18th century France. Will it diminish my enjoyment of the show when I see it? Not at all. These are just my babblings on a boring day :)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:05pm

and I spent the entire time wondering why they feared him, seeing as how a black man would never have had that power.

Well, *I* wouldn't be afraid of Cornell John, but that's because he sucked.

What did you think of Shaun Escoffery, then? Would the students have never followed a black guy around the barricade?

Updated On: 7/7/06 at 05:05 PM

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:07pm

Lizzie, this was never meant to be a confrontational post, but rather food for thought and a smart debate.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:10pm

iluvtheatertrash-The only truly disturbing thing is your post. It should not matter in the LEAST what the race of the actor is. They are playing a character and not themselves, so I see race as a moot point. If you can't deal with that, then theatre isn't the right place for you.

I'm sorry if I seem to be snapping and *maybe* it wasn't supposed to be written in an offensive manner, but it sure came off it to me.
Updated On: 7/7/06 at 05:10 PM

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:12pm

"and I spent the entire time wondering why they feared him, seeing as how a black man would never have had that power."

And the fact that they sang the whole show didn't throw you off the realism track at all?

[luvliza89]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:14pm

Exactly. If one can suspend thier belief for seeing ANY show, singing or not, then the same should go for race.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:15pm

I wasn't trying to be confrontational. I'm just tired of the same "if this can happen, then why not a black Nellie or Martian Norma Desmond blah blah blah" argument that inevitably comes up whenever a non-WASP ends up in Phantom or Les Miz.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:15pm

haha good point Lavie

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:15pm

Then you may not want to see the "revival" as the cast list looks like a walking talking Bennetton commercial. The story deals with such themes as sacrifice,humanity,redemption and forgiveness. They are color blind themes. The historical backdrop almost takes a backseat to the human events of the musical. Not everyone will agree... my only hope is that they cast the most qualified talent as opposed to making a Colorblind statement or a gimmick for the too soon revived Les Miz. Cameron's motives are not always as they seem to be.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:19pm

To Ilovetheatretrash...if your read my post properly, it was posed as a question, a debate...not an ironclad statement. I am a professional working actor. I would not audition for the role of the stable buck Crooks in Of Mice and Men, for I am not right for the part. I would not audition for Emile Debecque in South Pacific, even though I have strong baritone..why? because I am too young for the part. COuld I act and sing the hell out of it? Yes. Would you have a problem with me in the role? yes you would...age discrimination?? no...just accurate casting. Peace.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:20pm

Then you may not want to see the "revival" as the cast list looks like a walking talking Bennetton commercial.

Very good point, friedrichVT. When I found out about Nehal Joshi, my eyebrows raised only because this seems to be teetering towards a "Please don't notice we're trying REALLY REALLY hard to make up for only color-blind casting the women 90% of the time" sentiment. Kinda like the TV movie of Annie and the non-segregated orphanage.

I mean, you already have Norm Lewis and Daphne Rubin-Vega, plus two half-Asian juvenile leads (Adam Jacobs and Ali Ewoldt), Nikki Renee Daniels and Nehal Joshi in the ensemble. I'm sure they're not the only non-white cast members.

On a side note, the first production outside of Asia to cast a Valjean of Asian descent was interestingly enough, the Sao Paulo cast with Marcos Tumura.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:23pm

Phillyactor, "not right for the part" means different things to different people. Obviously ethnicity is low on the list in the Johnson-Liff-Rubin world.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:27pm

I believe you are right....after all the broader the cast, the broader the audience, which means the broader the box office. Is their motives to be politically correct or fiancially correct?

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:34pm

The artistry of Les Miz has been proven by its longevity in the world of theater. Considering it closed a little over 3 years ago, I would say it's "triumphant" return to Broadway as the world's longest Running Musical is strictly Financial.
Updated On: 7/7/06 at 05:34 PM

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:40pm

jasonf, I would definitely love to see Norm Lewis as Ruteledge, that'd be interesting in a kind of ironic way.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:49pm

This post really wasnt about Les Miz per se, but more about contradictions in casting practices, and what the real motives for them are. I doubt that a smaller box office draw, for say, The Cripple Of Inishman, would be making the same " politically correct" choices as the potential $$ blockbuster. The one would choose accuracy over the almighty dollar.

[WordedGrace]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 5:50pm

This topic was useless to begin with. It's a done deal...get over it.