Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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.
#1re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:02pm
I can't find it anywhere... 
Lome2
Stand-by Joined: 1/23/05
#2re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:14pmUpdated On: 8/20/10 at 12:14 PM
#3re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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.
#4re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:28pmIt is a really amazing article. Kudos to him... takes a lot of courage.
#5re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:30pmI'll echo Em's congratulations. This is a wonderful article, and his honesty is extremely refreshing.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
#6re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:31pmI 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.
#7re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:33pmThe 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.
And the other thing about the Phantom Lady was, Bert, she realized, in the city that never sleeps...
What did she realize, Kitten?
That all the songs she'd listened to, all the love songs, that they were only songs.
What's wrong with that?
Nothing, if you don't believe in them. But she did, you see. She believed in enchanted evenings, and she believed that a small cloud passed overhead and cried down on a flower bed, and she even believed there was breakfast to be had...
Where?
On Pluto. The mysterious, icy wastes of Pluto.
#8re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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. 
#9re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:36pmI 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.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
#10re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:40pmI 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.
#11re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:41pmI'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.
#12re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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.
IssaMe
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/03
#13re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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.
#14re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:46pmNeeeeeeeever mind, Em's got it covered.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Updated On: 11/25/06 at 12:46 PM
#15re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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.
#16re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 12:50pmI 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?
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
#17re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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...
#18re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#19re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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*)
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
#20re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:03pmI'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.
"We have enough youth -- How about a Fountain of Smart?"
________________________
"I'm not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde
#21re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:09pmAny 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.
#22re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:11pmLove the new avatar Em.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
#23re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
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.
#24re: Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times
Posted: 11/25/06 at 1:16pmI'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.
Videos