Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 7:57am

Can't find the link online, I'm sure someone else will be able to.

Very interesting interview with Raul...extremely candid about his sexuality "issues" (as they put it) and how it all relates to Company.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:02pm

I can't find it anywhere...

[Lome2]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:14pm

Updated On: 8/20/10 at 12:14 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:24pm

I was just about to post a thread on this.

He does talk with astounding honesty about his past, his personal life and his sexuality -- something he's been struggling with for a long, long time. (Not to trivialize in any way, because I NEVER thought he would come out publicly, but it's not surprising that it hits at the start of press weekend for the show that makes him an actor whose name goes above the title in a major Sondheim revival.)

My deepest, most sincere congratulations to him for coming out and for saying everything he did in this article -- in the f*cking New York Times no less. I'm proud of you, Raúl.

Updated On: 11/25/06 at 12:24 PM

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:28pm

It is a really amazing article. Kudos to him... takes a lot of courage.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:30pm

I'll echo Em's congratulations. This is a wonderful article, and his honesty is extremely refreshing.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:31pm

I respect his honesty and his candor, but frankly - does this really need to be the subject of a New York Times story? Whenever I read interviews like this, I always feel somewhat uncomfortable - like the subject should have kept these things in his therapist's office. That's a lot of public airing of private laundry.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:33pm

The honesty in that article was really beautiful...It just adds on to the excitement and reverence I have for Raul in seeing Company in a few weeks.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:33pm

I'm really surprised this ended up in the Times. If there hadn't been ties between the show and his personal life (which obviously presented themselves as publicity kick), it probably wouldn't have. But either way, totally shocked by the vehicle.

Leave it to him to do it in style, though.

Updated On: 11/25/06 at 12:33 PM

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:36pm

I agree that the obvious parallels most likely led to the article. And of course I would have no idea about coming out, but it must be a kind of relief to just get it as out there as it's ever going to be.

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:40pm

I didn't expect the article to be so personal. He always seemed like a very private person to me. But I think it's great that he was so honest. It takes a lot of courage to say all those things-- especially in a paper as widely read as the New York Times.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:41pm

I'm not quite sure what the parallels are though really. Bobby is not a gay character. He's not even a bisexual character. Sondheim and Furth have said this over and over again. I wonder if this is more a product of our current culture that says a 35 year old single man must have some "issues" over his sexuality or if its partly because almost every actor who has played Bobby in major productions of the show: Larry Kert, John Barrowman, George Chakiris, Hugh Panaro, Chris Sieber, and now Raul Esparza are gay/bisexual.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:44pm

If I understand correctly, the parallel is more strongly drawn because Bobby is struggling with issues relating to marriage due to a questioning of who one really is -- all in a show that deals with self-defintion through relations with others -- which Raúl has been for almost fifteen years. The scene in which Peter asks Bobby if he's gay (and he flat-out denies it, no less) is almost an added bonus for drawing it, but I don't think it's the main point. Bobby is struggling with identity issues that stretch far deeper than his potentially debatable sexuality.

I'm still so shocked. I never expected this at all.

Updated On: 11/25/06 at 12:44 PM

[IssaMe]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:44pm

"Almost" is the operative word.

Dean Jones created the role and wouldn't be on your list.
And Boyd Gaines did the first major American revival of the show.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:46pm

Neeeeeeeever mind, Em's got it covered.

Updated On: 11/25/06 at 12:46 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:48pm

Well that is why they aren't on my list, though James Clow who did the majority of Gaine's performances is, I believe also a gay actor.

I agree Emcee, its just interesting to me that the article deals so much with Esparza's sexuality, which I think will inherantly lead some readers to assume the character he is playing in COMPANY is going through a similar sexual identity conflict, which I think is a little misleading.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:50pm

I can see that potentially being confusing, MB, but how many of the people reading the article don't already know the show in some capacity do you think?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:52pm

I think most of the people who read the NY Times have never seen a production of COMPANY before...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:56pm

I think some of the jumps between links stretch a bit, but a lot of the identity issues he talks about wrestling are directly tied to cultural pressures to stay married, and things like that. It's not all exactly direct, so I see what you're saying, but I don't think it really leads you to believe that Bobby is gay. I see it more that the parallel with the marriage... stuff just leaves the door open for him to talk about his sexuality without explicitly making it feel like he shares that with the character. After I saw the show for the first time, I remember thinking "wow, that must be screwing with his head."

Back when the scene with Peter was more unclear, I often wondered if HE interpreted Bobby as gay. The performance doesn't read to me like he does, especially as it tightens up.

[snl89]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:01pm

wow... yeah... his honesty and openness amazes me. I so, SO respect people who are like that :) What a great (sad, but great) interview!

He reminds me so much of Anthony Rapp in a lot of ways... which is a very good thing, for the record (aaand, on that note, if he were to, say, write a book, I would definitely be reading it *g*)

[DonelBee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:03pm

I'm surprised that this NYTimes article omitts any reference to Raul's performance in the 2004 revival of The Normal Heart at the Public Theatre -- seems it would have fit into the "sexuality" focus -- but perhaps the writer wanted to mention only his musical efforts.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:09pm

Any mentions of that play in interviews since its run have been extremely few and far between. I have no idea why, but he seems to shy away from it. Purely speculative, but IF not mentioning it had anything to do with the fact that he was in the closet, you'd think now would be the time to bring it up again -- I've always assumed there was another reason, though. Ned is far from the only gay or bisexual role he's ever played, and does touch on issues of being in the closet, but it seems like the focus of this article was to remain on the Company parallels.

Updated On: 11/25/06 at 01:09 PM

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:11pm

Love the new avatar Em.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:15pm

Heh, thank you.

I vehemently disagree with the comparisons to Anthony Rapp, but whatever. Yes, Raul was honest and Anthony is absolutely known for his honesty, which is wonderful and admirable, but this is very different.

Updated On: 11/25/06 at 01:15 PM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:16pm

I've always wondered how it must've been for him to perform in The Normal Heart. I'm a little surprised that it's not mentioned as well, but the writer seems to focus on his career highlights/the most visible work he's done.