Reba's "SOUTH Almost PATHETIC"- Page 2
Reba's "SOUTH Almost PATHETIC"
#25re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:17amWhile concert presentations are fun, why is rehearsal time grossly short? I find it artistically irresponsible to charge an audience for a lackluster and ill-prepared cast.
RockyRoad
Leading Actor Joined: 9/4/04
#26re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:17amNot sure I agree with the fact that race is an issue with the concert presentation. And it wouldn't bother me if a minority played the role during a regular run either.
#27re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:19am
A minority cannot play Emile in a full production of SP - doesn't work. Nellie's initial prejudice would not permit her to consider dating a minority in the first place.
I am all for color blind casting, but this is one show that you can't cast color blind.
#28re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:20amLilias White as Liat?? I adore her (as far back as an LA production of 'Dreamgirls' back in the 80's when Jennifer Holiday was out sick and she was the understudy) but I don't think she could be considered 'Younger Than Springtime' any more.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#29re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:24amI don't know, Mamie. She's a little old but she's got such a girlish attitude to her that I love. I totally can see Reba pulling this off. But this is someone talking who adores the woman.
nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#30re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:27amEmil is French. You can't have color blind casting in that role. It makes no sense. Color blind casting has gone too far. How about a half Chinese/half Italian cast for A Raisin in the Sun?
freelancer
Stand-by Joined: 2/3/05
#31re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 10:46am
I thought Reba did an okay job, thought I'm not a country fan, and there was a little too much twang for my taste. But Stokes and Jason were fan-freaking-tastic. Stokes' "This Nearly Was Mine" was out of this world, and Jason's high notes were right on. Lillias White did a fantastic job with "Bali Hai" (and if she messed up, I didn't catch it). Alec Baldwin was hysterical in "Honey Bun". The male chorus was great as well in "There Is Nothing Like A Dame". Overall, definitely an A performance, on Stokes and Jason power alone. Reba was even crying at the end. Everyone sitting around me absolutely loved it.
#32re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 11:23amFrom all accounts this evening sounds like a mini train wreck. Will they really air this on PBS? Will the R&H estate make them go back and dub their flubbed lyrics? Will Reba veto this if she comes accross on tape as ill prepared?
RockyRoad
Leading Actor Joined: 9/4/04
#33re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 11:25amDid I cath this correctly? Emil is French so we can't cast a minority? Like there are no minority French people?
#34re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 11:26amThe issue isn't that you can't cast a minority because he is French. The issue is that you can't cast a minority because Nellie would never have gone out with him in the first place.
freelancer
Stand-by Joined: 2/3/05
#35re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 11:28amNo, the evening definitely was not a train wreck. Reba was good, but she didn't live up to expectations. That was my only problem with the show.
#36re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 11:55am
And for the record, the natives of the south pacific islands aren't really polynesian. They are "tonkinese" -- I'm sure that's not the right spelling, but they are much darker skinned than the natives of island countries like Hawaii.
Assuming Emile had dark hair and eyes (most French men do), his children would be very ethnic looking. I agree with everyone else that you simply can not have color blind casting in this show. Not when the entire theme of the musical is combating racism.
Updated On: 6/10/05 at 11:55 AM
ianacts
Swing Joined: 10/21/03
#37re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:06pmYou absolutly can have color blind casting in any show. Sorry Kids but White does not equal French and futhermore BSM is not Don Cheadle, he is an extremly light skinned man of almost undetermined race. I guess he could be " made " to look more French but what is the point in a staged concert. Audra as Clara was wonderful. Performances have the power of trancending race, I would love to see an all Chinese Production of A Rasin in the Sun,it's about dreams being deferred and that is a HUMAN issue. The all Black Cast of Anne Frank would definetly work, considering that Black People know oppression. Small minded theatre people are the worst thing ever.
#38re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:10pmIt has nothing to do with being small minded and I take exception to that. In most shows, you can have color blind casting by when the subject matter of the show involves race, you simply cannot. You can't cast certain roles without taking race into consideration when you are casting full fledged productions. A concert version of a show is fine and is not impacted by an performer's race. It doesn't make me racist for saying so. Emile simply cannot be anything but caucasian.
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#39re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:12pmUnless, of course, Ensign Nellie Forbush is black.
#40re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:13pmRobbie, I considered editing my last response to add just that. Nellie and Emile need to be the same race in order for this show to work.
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#41re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:14pm
Bingo.
That said, I'd love a LaChanze/Stokes pairing in a revival of South Pacific.
#42re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:16pmBetter yet, let's have an all male version and cast Matt Morrison as Ned Forbush and Antonio Bandares as Emile.
nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#43re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:19pmDdtruitt, would you PLEASE change the picture above your username? It looks like a trailer park Lolita outside of Montgomery, Alabama.
#44re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:21pm
If you were to do an all asian cast of RAISIN THE SUN, Lorraine Hansberry's estate would shut you down quicker then you can say SUN-MAID.
nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#45re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:25pmSome of these posters immediately assume one is racist if one doesn't believe in color-blind casting for every play. Sometimes the concept is detrimental to the piece. South Pacific is such a case.
jim coleman
Stand-by Joined: 1/10/05
#46re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 1:23pmThe whole point of the racism plot line is that Nellie doesn't know that Emile had a Polynesian wife and they had two mixed race children. If Emile is of another race, then she knows right off and would never fall in love with him. It doesn't make sense that she would accept Emile and not accept his children. And anothe thing, why does everyone have to be so mean-sprited to people who have a different opinion? That is what makes life interesting. Let people have their own views on these subjects. They don't need to be ridiculed for them!
Mr. Tuttle
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#47re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 3:30pmThanks Jim..you're right. Too bad folks don't do that. Some like to Munkey around.
Mr. Tuttle
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#48re: Reba's 'SOUTH Almost PATHETIC'
Posted: 6/10/05 at 3:31pmBut more important....what's Lillas been up to? Anything in the works?
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