Playwright Upset By Casting Choices

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/157100-Stephen-Adly-Guirgis-Takes-Stance-on-Regional-Casting-of-Motherfker-with-the-Hat

I agree with the playwright's position here; especially after reading his remarks on the subject of this particular play and production.

If the company in question has a history of casting (terrific)hispanic and other minority actors for seemingly WASP parts, I would have no problem with their casting (terrific) "White" actors for this play. In fact that would be the best of all possible worlds. But if this is part of a pattern of discrimination for this Hartford Company, the playwright is being too soft on them. WAY TOO SOFT.

I imagine a few things are at play here. I'm guessing Guirgis was not intimately involved with a regional production of his play. He also probably is not at a level where he has casting approval written into his contract in regards to larger regional productions. And finally, I'm willing to be he didn't think he needed to even worry about this as his characters are so clearly defined as New York Puerto Ricans (nyuorican). He probably thought, 'Who's stupid enough to cast lily white people as these characters???'

And if he cast two actors who cannot convincingly pull off the roles (as the Times review suggests), then I'd argue he's not a great director. And it still doesn't change the fact that Guirgis is rightfully angry about the fact that his intention in writing these characters was completely disregarded.

I do not support color-blind casting. I support non-traditional casting in many, many instances. But if the playwright has clearly made an issue of ethnicity of his characters, one should take as many pains as possible to cast people who can credibly meet the needs of the role.

Here is the Times' review of the production:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/nyregion/the-with-the-hat-at-theaterworks-in-hartford-review.html?_r=1

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This is really getting interesting now.

TheaterWorks' artistic director and the director of the production, Steve Campo, shared an email with the Hartford Courant in response to the controversy. He stated: "It is a tribute to his skill that Stephen Adly Guirgis, though not Hispanic, is able to so credibly depict a culture not his own, as he does in The Motherf[------] With the Hat. How gracious it would be of him to allow that actors (of whatever heritage) might succeed in acting, much as he has in writing."


And Guirgis responded on facebook with:
Stephen Adly Guirgis commented on BroadwayWorld.com.
it's interesting that mr. campo calls me out for not being latino. it's interesting that he categorizes me as being ungracious. I am a half-egyptian, half irish-american new yorker who wrote a play about new yorkers who are multi-ethnic, and yes, three of those characters are latino. I will be at the theater in hartford to support the actors & to see the show. I'm sure all the actors have worked hard and have given their all, and I look forward to meeting them afterwards and giving them some love. it will also be interesting to see if I will see mr campo there. perhaps he can teach me more about how to be gracious, and he can school me on all the other ethnicities that I am not a member of. I will say this: if mr campo can give me the list of every latino actor in nyc that they saw for the roles of jackie & veronica before they decided that these two caucasian actors were far and away the best choice, then I will be happy to make a sincere & formal apology to him, along with a financial donation to his theater. I have already lost FRIENDS over this -- people who just assumed I knew what was going on from the beginning and did nothing to stop it. perhaps mr. campo could also teach me how to repair those relationships. I look forward to meeting mr campo someday so I can fully express my gratitude to him face to face. I'm sure I have much to learn from him about many things.

Given how many of the stories told in theater (and TV/film) are of white characters, I do see the problem when white actors step in for roles that are specific written in as ethnic. The whole point of black/Latino/Asian American theater was to give voices of those minority groups who are largely neglected by the "American" (i.e. white) society.

Once we reach a truly post-racial society, a truly "color-blind" casting would have no problems. But until then, ethnic roles should be reserved for ethnic performers.

Similar thing happened with Jonathan Pryce and his involvement in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon (strangely there wasn't much controversy in London) where casting directors defended their decision to the point of stating that there essentially were no Asian performers who were talented enough to perform the role of The Engineer, despite how numerous Asian actors performed the role after Jonathan Pryce left.