TotallyEffed said: "I’d say thatif you’re so hung up onit that you’re arguing with strangers online, I’d at least be curious about the potential for something there. Theatre is a special and unique art form. It has different rules that allow roomfor a lot of creativity and possibilities. It’s far more forgiving than film, for instance. The all male production of Twelfth Night starring Mark Rylance was potentially the best Shakespeare I have or ever will see. Was I furious that men were playing female roles? No, I was delighted by the top notch talent and storytelling. Did you have issues with Bertie Carvel’s amazing performance in Matilda? Did you find it distastefulthat many of the actors who played Hedwig on Broadway were completely the wrong age? What is it about this role and this actress that irritates you so?
On stage, you can play with wires, pulleys, makeup, movement, lighting, and casting in infinite combinations. Poetry, song, double casting, etc etc etc. The list goes on and on.Some theatre makers evenemphasize making the audience aware that this is theatre, not real life.
So yes. If you struggle that deeply with a black woman playing a character in a musical about singing nuns, then maybe you should ask yourself… why? Maybe it’s all totally innocent. Butwhy?"
Honestly, one of the smarter takes I've seen on this board in a while, and I appreciate it even if you clearly suspect my position is coming from a place I'd disagree with.
What I'm more interested in is where we draw the line between casting as a theatrical device and casting that changes how an audience reads a story. I don't think every role can be played by anyone in every production - context, concept, and directorial intent matter. Sometimes race is incidental to a character, and sometimes it creates new layers of meaning whether the production intends it to or not.
I may ultimately disagree with this particular casting choice, but I'm much more interested in discussing the broader principle than litigating a single actress's suitability for a role.
That's the conversation I'm interested in having. Truthfully, I'm far more interested in that question than in The Sound of Music itself, which I've always found somewhat dull as a stage musical.
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