Some of you may think this racist...it's not:- Page 2

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 7:15pm

No one is saying that the story is more "authentic" if Aida is played by a black actress. We're saying that the point is that they have VISIBLE RACIAL DIVIDE. Otherwise, in that context, what's forbidden, other than the fact that the countries are at war? In a medium so visual as musical theatre, just saying "oh, we can't be in love, it's bad!" isn't enough.

You're telling us what the racial composition of Egyptian society is like TODAY, and I respect your knowledge, but I don't appreciate your insistence that you can have an accurate picture of what it was in Ancient times simply by knowing history, yet your lack of presentation of what you insist is so easy to know. If you know so much, you must be able to prove to me, then, that these people, like those today must have been white, yes?

The point is that we can't prove who was more likely white or more likely black. It's impossible to know. And if you're insisting that knowing history is so important, I'm still going to hold to my argument based on supposed historic accuracy of a culture's own art. For all we know, though, their portrayal of their own culture may not have been perfectly accurate. For something so long ago and undocumented, it's impossible to know for sure, or to think you do.

In regard to this being "too much," the original poster's question was NOT meant to bring up any racist issues - because of the enormous conglomerate that is Disney, the way they did it has rather become the stereotype and automatic assumption for these roles. Since that's the way it was originally done in this particular incarnation of the story, that's the way people think it should be done for other productions of it. She didn't do anything wrong, other than ask a question about the performance of the material. Lay off.

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:13pm

Aida in the opera and in the musical is a Nubian princess. She is black, as are her people. This is not at issue, is it? As I noted earlier, in opera, if a white woman plays the part, she wears dark makeup. Would this be considered racist if it were done in the musical? Is the very idea of making up to be black totally over the line now? I don't know. Actors playing Othello do it and no one worries about it.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:30pm

yeah, they told us about make up, and whoever gets the part will get heavy black eye liner (see if that works..) and i think to show the racial division, they're having radames wear one color the whole show and Aida another color......see if the audience catches on to that.

I am well aware that not all Egyptias are black, my dad is Lebanese and even though that's not Egyptian...he's not black.

And, when they chose Aida, I don't htink they realized that no other black women/girls would be interested.... I suppose they could have planned that out more but just gotta go with it

And again, it's true this isn't like it's a big adult theatre and while I do protest saying "who cares it's just kids performing it" we do still work really hard and want it really well done. I will gladly step out of the role if they find someone better suiting for the job, but until they can, I guess we'll just have to go with what we have.

But does it make sense to you to do the whole color-clothes thing?

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:35pm

i live in CT too. where is this taking place? i heard rumors of a Westport highschool doing it this summer...but that's not what you're talking about.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:36pm

nope not Westport, it's around the Georgetown area... do you live near there?

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:37pm

under the circumstances as you describe them, the color coded costumes sounds like a way to go. In any case, good luck in the role. It's a great part, whoever does it.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:47pm

Yes, Madame Butterfly - you make a good point. Problem is, the show takes place in B.C. - way way way way way way way before the 1900s. WAY before.

Like I said before, it doesn't matter. I mean, some of the Nubians on Broadway were white...and doubled for Zoser's people.

It definately helps to emphasis the struggle by seperating the cast white and black - but I don't think it matters.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:02pm

I'm sorry it's freakin embarassing and pretty insulting to me to see somebody walk around stage with some colorized make up on. I don't care if you're freakin Laurence Olivier, I don't wanna see a white guy made up to be a black man. To that I always say "gee there are plenty of black people who could do that role" why get a white guy who has to do the extra make up stuff. Now I have nothing against colorblind casting, unless the role calls for a specific race ala Ragtime. And yes I think it goes both ways. I wouldn't mind seeing a white angel in Rent, or a white Collins. I wouldn't mind a black Eliza Doolittle. I mean it's as if Audra put on some pale make-up and did Evita. I think that would be equally insulting. Everything has it's limits and I think that includes colorblind casting. If the piece is about race, then you have to go there or just don't do the show. Mind you I'm speaking proffessionally. If a school wants to do Aida I say go ahead and do it with an all white cast, it's a learning experience. But I don't wanna pay to see some white guy pretend he's black sorry, it looks like black face even if it's not.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:05pm

Well, since they already have a Radames and and Amneris cast, both white and blonde couincidentally, I don't think it's murdering the story to put in someone white.

Example: If i were to be cast I'd put heavy black liner, and use a dark bronzer to make me look tanner, cuz I'm not like baby-butt white. make sense?

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:13pm

Ohh yeah bronzer is one thing. I'm talking about the Laurence Olivier black face thing. Or I've seen soo many dark italian girls try to be asian, or italian girls playing Julie in Showboat. But I think school is the only realm where that is ok.

[WayWicked]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:15pm

I want to see some 12 yr old former Annie belting out Aida's party

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:23pm

where around the georgetown area? name of the theatre? i'm from around there and would definately be interested in checking it out!

[mikewood]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 11:38am

I believe there are certain parts that have to be race specific...I'm not sure if the characters in Aida fall in that category especially in a school or community production but there are others:

Coltrain in "Ragtime" and Othello have to be black.
Kim in Miss Saigon has to be Asian.

Historical figures require some sort of accuracy. For instance, a play like 1776 needn't be an exercise in ethnic diversity.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 11:44am

Jazzy -- you do realize that Audra McDonald has played EVITA already --- twice. Not sure if she wore "light" makeup however...

And I actually think the casting of Julie in SHOWBOAT has gone a little too heavily towards casting an African-American. The gimmick of the role has always been not that is she is black, but that she has black blood in her. If she actually looks black, no southern showboat would have hired her, and Magnolia would be an idiot not to know. Perhaps it's worth noting that Lonnette McKee did wear a "lighter" makeup when she played the role.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 12:02pm

It's not racist and don't let anyone tell you that it is......plus you don't know what part you'll get yet. At any rate, you auditioned which is a good thing because the more you do, the better you'll be at auditions......

[Jon]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 12:08pm

The casting of a black actor as Billy Flynn in the current revival of CHICAGO does not bother me, because the current revival has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the 1920's. Face it - the costumes, the hairstyles - they are all wrong. Chorus boys with leather vests and no shirts?

Remember - it sated out as an Encores concert - back when Encores was supposed to be "no costumes". The first couple of years, the participants wore their own evening gowns and tuxedos - there was no William Ivey Long pickiog out black underwear for the girls.

A black Billy Flynn created a whole "Johnnie Cochran" link to current events - the O.J. Simpson trial was fresh in everyone's minds at the time.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:28pm

::spazzes:: happy to say I got the part


SO I asked about make up after the announcement and they told me that yes, it'll be bronzer with dark eye make up, my hair in a braid and I'll be wearing purple through the whole thing, a dark purple, Radames will be wearing red through the whole performance, and Amneris will be wearing pink the whole first act and baby blue the whole second act.

So it's a color codeing thing

WayWicked- if you must know, I was a former Annie thank you, and although 14 is only 2 years from 12 there is a big difference. I'm kinda surprised they chose this show for a children's theatre but as long as it's there I'm happy

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:43pm

Mazel, good things!

So, you are Aida...you better record your voice so we can hear you belt out Dance of the Robe...

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:45pm

now there's a song worth going over before rehearsals start..for my auditions they had me sing "Easy As Life"

......better practice Dance of the Robe..

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:49pm

Dance AND Gods love Nubia...

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:50pm

oh yes they made us sing Gods Love Nubia as a group for auditions as well....

I LOVE that song!

[Al Dente]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:50pm

I'm with MadameButterfly, not in outrage but as you know I've been out west for quite some time and there is a huge middle eastern population, Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians etc... and none of them are remotely "dark skinned". Paula Abdul is Syrian, does she look like she could check any box other than caucasian on a college application? However, I would like to know why it's alright for Elphaba to be black (and don't give me the nonsense about the green make-up,you know what I mean) but Aida can't be white? I believe if there was any creativity in theater, in the almost five years that Aida ran, Radames and Amneris could have both been black at some point or another and Aida could have been white.

Let's go a step further, if you want to go for *reality* in theater characterizations, and how infrequently that's adhered to, you need look no further than Footloose, does anyone think that in a town that outlawed dancing there would be an interracial couple, if you do, than I throw my hands up.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:51pm

...that's true!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:55pm

Al Dente:

It doesn't matter to me race. Unless the script says, "so-and-so is black, this one's asian, he, over there, is a mexican, etc.," I don't think it should matter.

Of course, I would probably be a little unhappy if I saw Aida on Broadway and she was black - but if she could sing and act well, I'd get over it.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 4:55pm

Al Dente:

It doesn't matter to me race. Unless the script says, "so-and-so is black, this one's asian, he, over there, is a mexican, etc.," I don't think it should matter.

Of course, I would probably be a little unhappy if I saw Aida on Broadway and she was black - but if she could sing and act well, I'd get over it.