Scottsboro Boys Protest Watch

[binau]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 1:00pm

If there is another 'protest' can someone jump on their iPhone and post in this thread? I'd love to head over and mingle with the protestors.

[nettapple]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 1:50pm

Offensive Minstrelsy Overshadows History in “Scottsboro Boys”
By Jeanette Toomer
The new musical, “The Scottsboro Boys,” on Broadway at the Lyceum Theater tells the true story of nine black men wrongly arrested in 1931 for raping two white women. It takes place in Alabama and that says it all. Yet, the producers build a minstrel show framework around this historic tale of societal injustice and racism that offends and insults modern black audiences. The height of this offense comes in the grand finale when the all black male cast dances in full blackface greasepaint and white gloves.
Minstrelsy was a form of theater in the early 1900s through 1930s that black actors performed for white audiences in segregated theaters. Many of the characters portrayed amounted to nothing more than buffoons or other black stereotypes. The “minstrel shows” actually originated in the 1850s with “groups of white minstrels wearing blackface whose material caricatured the singing and dancing of black slaves.” In “The Scottsboro Boys” the opening number introduced two of these laughing and grinning cartoon types as “Bones,” and “Tambo.” Full-blown racism not only ruled the court system but America’s stages as well.
Although minstrelsy may seem a suitable vehicle for staging the Scottsboro Boy’s story, it is not necessary. In fact, it adds an uncomfortable quality of “for whites only” as if the black audience members are not even present. In its worst cases, like the “electric chair” dance, the impact is repugnant as the black victims fall into the chair and after jolted by electricity, jump up again and dance around like the living dead. The racist assault on our persons detracts from the power of the story of the Scottsboro case which alone proves to be quite enlightening, dramatic and educative on its own merits.
In spite of this gross error in framing the show, this musical held some good theatrical qualities. With book by David Thompson and creative choreography by Susan Stroman, “The Scottsboro Boys” features telling lyrics by Kander and Ebb, and a very talented ensemble cast led by Broadway’s rising star, Joshua Henry. Standout satiric portrayals by Colman Domingo as the southern sheriff and prosecuting attorney inspire fits of laughter. Forrest McClendon perfectly captures the New York dialect and determination of the Jewish defense attorney, Samuel Liebowitz, who tries to rescue the Scottsboro Boys on subsequent appeals.

“The Scottsboro Boys” closes this weekend.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 2:22pm

Can you post a link to that? What site did it come from?

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 2:27pm

"Standout satiric portrayals by Colman Domingo as the southern sheriff and prosecuting attorney inspire fits of laughter. Forrest McClendon perfectly captures the New York dialect and determination of the Jewish defense attorney, Samuel Liebowitz, who tries to rescue the Scottsboro Boys on subsequent appeals."


So the white stereotypes portrayed in the show are fine.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 2:35pm

That review seems to blame the producers of the show for the minstrel concept- as if the book writer and Kander and Ebb had nothing to do it with it (their contributions are praised). Of course it mentions the blackface, but it fails to mention how the characters act disgusted as they wipe it off and confront the Interlocutor. Or that as they wear they blackface, they reveal their (often terrible) fates.

They also fail to mention that Colman Domingo's laughter-inspiring prosecutor sings a song about how Jews control the money. I guess that's okay, then.

I'd be disgusted if the final performance was met with those goddamn protesters again. What a clueless and hypocritical lot of people.

[binau]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 2:46pm

Agree Kad.

Also RE: Black vs White Audience - I watched a black woman who was visibly shocked - but moved by the show, and stood up instantly at the end and was crying. This seems like an ideal response.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 3:24pm

And the dumbing down of America continues...

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 5:21pm

They also neglect to discuss the reason for presenting the show this way. To me, it was the brilliant part. I have read about blackface tradition, seen it many times.. know lots about it. And of course I knew it was terrible and everything.

But the experience of watching that show and hearing that story and then them coming out in blackface--it was the first time I really felt what that tradition was and what it meant. I burst into tears and have barely been able to think about anything else since then. Isn't that an example of what great theatre can do, and how we can not come away from the racism of the past if we pretend it never happened?

The show is fantastic, and if you haven't seen it--DO IT if you can. It is NOT to be missed.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 5:22pm

I overheard a great many audiences members praising the show and questioning why it was being protested as they walked out last weekend. There just isn't an argument these protesters can make that isn't destroyed by actually SEEING the show.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 6:29pm

^^ Ah well, see, there's the problem. Why actually SEE something when you can rumble on in blissful ignorance? It makes life so very much easier.

[hottieho13]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 7:28pm

Didn't Rent have a Bunch of protesters at one point in time?i understand that this "concept" is very hurtful but with all the hateful crimes going on in this country right now we need this show very badly.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 12/11/10 at 9:08pm

When I was in New York, I was speaking to a couple of the protesters, in the deli, near to The Lyceum Theatre and found them to be 100% bigoted.

As for the show, which I found to be very good, it taught me of a social injustice that I did not know about, which must me good.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 5:57am

Yes, well, know what, folks? We can all prattle on and on about how great the show was and how stupid the protests were, but the bottom line is: the protesters won. Fear and stupidity and ignorance carried the day yet again. Hell, even the "review" in this thread (where is that from, anyway? anyone know?) demonstrates it in bucketloads.

Updated On: 12/12/10 at 05:57 AM

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:14am

To the OP: They seem to target Sunday matinees, especially, so pop over around 2:30 today if you want to try to catch them in action.

SeanMartin, I don't want to give the protestors too much credit. I do not believe that the show is closing because of their protests. I think it's a coincidence and not that they've "won".

[Stewpot]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:30am

Like to hear it, here it go ...

"Shut it down, it time to go, Scotsboro boys no minstrel show."

Also heard ... "Dey wouldn't make a musical about 9-11!"

[tazber]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:39am

Sean Martin basically summed it up perfectly:

"Why actually SEE something when you can rumble on in blissful ignorance? It makes life so very much easier."

I forget who said it, but I recall reading last year a quote form someone who was saying that sanctimonious outrage was the new automatic response for people who read or hear about situations (either in real life, or as in this case the arts) that strike them as wrong. No research or understanding of context is needed.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:59am

Taz, that is a sadly true statement...

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 12:27pm

The writer of the article forgets that minstrel shows were watched and enjoyed by blacks as well (of course they had to sit in the balcony) who seemed to enjoy having their mannerisms exaggerated into caricature. To them it was JUST entertainment.

I can't tell if it is just poor writing but the writer seems to imply that Mr Bones and Mr Tambo are the invention of Thompson/Kander/Ebb and when they were standard stock characters in minstrel shows.

As I write this WHITE CHRISTMAS is on TV at the song that goes "I'd Rather See a Minstrel show/Than any other show I know..." as Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye & Rosemary Clooney perform a Minstrel show... with an all-white cast!!!

[Kad]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 1:50pm

It's also worth nothing that minstrel shows in the late 19th/early 20 century also often featured black performers (who also wore blackface).

[temms]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 7:38pm

They were there for the closing. The whole thing struck me as ridiculous - you're complaining that the world of Musical Theatre isn't socially progressive enough? Even if you personally found this show in questionable taste, Susan Stroman and the Weisslers are worth your time and energy? Really? I think some people just wanted some easy attention...

Anyway, they were alternating between the chant quoted above (which was done rhythmically, in cheerleader call-and-response style): LEADER: "Scottsboro Boys is no minstrel show!" CHORUS: "Shut it down, it's got to go!"

and also: LEADER: "Say 'No!' (Beat) to racism!" CHORUS: "Say 'No!' (Beat) to racism!" and they'd repeat that a few times, then back to the "Minstrel Show" one. They were handing out fliers, too, but I didn't take one.

I thought the protesters outside of "Capeman" some 14 years ago were a much classier lot.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 7:44pm

They were loud at the matinee today but mostly ignored or written off for their ignorance. Sad that a show that makes you think cannot draw a larger audience to keep it open.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 8:09pm

Were the runs off-Broadway and at the Guthrie met with these protests? Or were they just when the show got to Broadway?

[jv92]

Posted: 12/12/10 at 8:11pm

No protests at the Vineyard that I can remember.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 12:09am

Let's protest Wicked because it is discriminatory to animal activists.
Updated On: 12/13/10 at 12:09 AM

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 9:55am

'Scottsboro' didn't close because of a handful of protesters, so please don't give them that power or credit. Other shows, like 'Miss Saigon,' attracted much larger protests, but people still went anyway.

'Scottsboro' closed because it couldn't get enough theatergoers interested: white OR black, New Yorkers OR tourists. The enthusiasm for this show might've been avid on theater message boards, but clearly it wasn't shared by the general audiences who SAW the show. Each week the seating capacity was going down; that would suggest that the word of mouth was not that incredible. The average ticket price had dropped to $50 last week. Nor was there much of an advance or else the producers would've kept it running at least through the usually highly lucrative holiday weeks.