Raul Esparza Interview in Sunday Times

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Neeeeeeeever mind, Em's got it covered.

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

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?

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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.

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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.

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Love the new avatar Em.

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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.