Straight men playing gay men

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:29pm

In the 2018 Forbes Tony Award prediction article, the author makes a complaint about Andrew Garfield's casting of a "straight British man." He uses the term "gayface," one I've never heard, and I assume he created. 

What are peoples' thoughts on this? By his standards, are gay men permitted to play straight men? I understand the need for representation of the LGBTQ community but this seems to be limiting the community even more. Acting is acting, and as long as Mr. Garfield is performing a respectable, truthful portrayal (he is), then no complaints from me.

Am I overthinking this? Thoughts?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2018/06/04/2018-tony-award-predictions-harry-potter-spongebob-and-more/#2be412214a14

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:37pm

This oughta go over well.

[RicardoMagon]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:41pm

Gay face? That's the dumbest thing I've heard. The real problem that I see in theater is most gay characters in theater are written as stereotypical flaming will and grace type crap. Writers should do a better job at depicting people who happen to be gay, rather than forcing down the tired stereotype. Straight men should be able to play homosexual characters and homosexual men should be be able to play heterosexual characters. Sexuality doesn't matter when your an actor.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:45pm

Yep.  Straight men are allowed to play gay men.  Gay men are allowed to play straight men.  I won't even acknowledge the rest of the article.  

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:46pm

I didn’t find any truth in Garfield’s performance in London.

This argument will get us nowhere, recently I had a discussion about casting men in trans roles, like Tamors character started off pre-transition so to me its acceptable to my friend it’s not acceptable to cast a man.

I think they should have cast a gay actor for the lead in Angels, it’s just my opinion. It’s the second major revival and I don’t think gay men should have been excluded from the role for a celebrity.

Gay men are excluded from their own stories in film and tv more often than not. It’s changing and perhaps when there’s balance then ok it won’t be a problem.

Having gay men on stage telling gay history in Boys in the Band now is monumental, and I feel it is being looked over. Gay actors and gay stories were not bankable previously. Left to the fringes, I hope people understand what an important moment in LGBTQ+ history the Boys in the Band revival is.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:50pm

 "Sexuality doesn't matter when your an actor."

I totally agree.  And Andrew was cast perfectly, obviously, since he will be winning a Tony Award in a 5 days.  

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:52pm

Gizmo6 said: "Having gay men on stage telling gay history in Boys in the Band now is monumental, and I feel it is being looked over. Gay actors and gay stories were not bankable previously. Left to the fringes, I hope people understand what an important moment in LGBTQ+ history the Boys in the Band revival is. "

Every single article mentions this?

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:54pm

haterobics said: "Gizmo6 said: "Having gay men on stage telling gay history in Boys in the Band now is monumental, and I feel it is being looked over. Gay actors and gay stories were not bankable previously. Left to the fringes, I hope people understand what an important moment in LGBTQ+ history the Boys in the Band revival is. "

Every single article mentions this?"

Apologies I haven’t seen much about the revival I’m in Europe, I’m really glad that’s being noted then. 

Thanks 

[RicardoMagon]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:55pm

I think gay stories are underrepresented in Hollywood ( along with everything else). But can you really make a case that  they are underrepresented on Broadway? I feel like Broadway has had many LGBT characters for decades ( Billy Elliot, Falsettos, legally blonde, la cage aux folles, Bent, Rent, kinky boots, chorus line, The producers,  Fun Home. if/then, color purple, cabaret,avenue Q) I mean the list goes on.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:59pm

They've been represented for decades on Broadway.   I totally agree, Ricardo.  

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 6:59pm

HenryTDobson said: "In the 2018 Forbes Tony Award prediction article, the author makes a complaint about Andrew Garfield's casting of a "straight British man." He uses the term "gayface," one I've never heard, and I assume he created."

Old argument. Old term.

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/06/straight_actors_in_gay_roles_is_gayface_ok.html

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:02pm

Everyone's a little gay.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:02pm

RicardoMagon said: "I think gay stories are underrepresented in Hollywood ( along with everything else). But can you really make a case that they are underrepresented on Broadway? I feel like Broadway has had many LGBT characters for decades( Billy Elliot, Falsettos, legally blonde, la cage aux folles, Bent, Rent, kinky boots, chorus line, The producers, Fun Home. if/then, color purple, cabaret,avenue Q) I mean the list goes on."

As an academic with a PhD on Queer theatre, yes I can say with some authority that gay stories are underrepresented. A gay character does not a gay story male. 

[Dave28282]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:04pm

And is a man without kids playing a father "Father face"?

Isn't that the whole point of acting?

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:05pm

haterobics said: "HenryTDobson said: "In the 2018 Forbes Tony Award prediction article, the author makes a complaint about Andrew Garfield's casting of a "straight British man." He uses the term "gayface," one I've never heard, and I assume he created."

Old argument. Old term.

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/06/straight_actors_in_gay_roles_is_gayface_ok.html"

Thank you for this article! Interesting.

[TexanAddams18]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:05pm

Dave28282 said: "And is a man without kids playing a father "Father face"?

Isn't that the whole point of acting?"

Couldn't sum it up any better. 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:08pm

Certain LGBTQ stories have been told (not much in the way of trans actually but that's consistent with real life) and they are sort of from the same demographic and some times it feels like they all have one voice (they don't but that's what happens with they dominate the story). There's way more stories to tell from LGBTQ authors and characters from different points of views and areas of life that Broadway has not explored yet. One reason Fun Home in 2015 was such a revelation was because it hit so many new notes with the telling of a woman's history grappling with her sexuality, meeting gender standards, and her father's sexuality. Although the story of coming out or being "gay" has been tackled on Broadway before, it was never really tackled from that perspective with a butch lesbian being the main character.

[RicardoMagon]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:08pm

Gizmo6 said: "RicardoMagon said: "I think gay stories are underrepresented in Hollywood ( along with everything else). But can you really make a case that they are underrepresented on Broadway? I feel like Broadway has had many LGBT characters for decades( Billy Elliot, Falsettos, legally blonde, la cage aux folles, Bent, Rent, kinky boots, chorus line, The producers, Fun Home. if/then, color purple, cabaret,avenue Q) I mean the list goes on."

As an academic with a PhD on Queer theatre, yes I can say with some authority that gay stories are underrepresented. A gay character does not a gay story male."

So what change would you like to see on Broadway that better represents the gay male?

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:10pm

The other problem is straight actors win awards for ‘playing gay’ whereas gay actors are unbelievable

http://www.newsweek.com/glee-sean-hayes-gay-actors-play-straight-70225

Also, the father face point is probably the dumbest thing I’ve read on these boards and I’ve read some **** here!

Why does homophobia always masquerade as stupidity?

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:12pm

Portraying gay men of different ages, body types, places where they are from, different socio-economic backgrounds, different adult lives, different races, different interests, passions, etc. than is what usually portrayed on Broadway...also stories having different character arcs, different stories being told, having them actually be the main character, etc.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:13pm

I'm going to set aside the central argument of the article and just unpack the terminology it's trying to use for a second:

Equating the ludicrous idea of "gay face" to, by using the name "gay face", to black/yellow/red/brown face that white actors used to but on (and still do in community theatre productions of The King and I all over America) is a little... upsetting and off base while boarding on downright demeaning to the actual problem of white people playing people of color.

Updated On: 6/5/18 at 07:13 PM

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:14pm

RicardoMagon said: "Gizmo6 said: "RicardoMagon said: "I think gay stories are underrepresented in Hollywood ( along with everything else). But can you really make a case that they are underrepresented on Broadway? I feel like Broadway has had many LGBT characters for decades( Billy Elliot, Falsettos, legally blonde, la cage aux folles, Bent, Rent, kinky boots, chorus line, The producers, Fun Home. if/then, color purple, cabaret,avenue Q) I mean the list goes on."

As an academic with a PhD on Queer theatre, yes I can say with some authority that gay stories are underrepresented. A gay character does not a gay story male."

So what change would you like to see on Broadway that better represents the gay male?"

Only 4 on your list have leading gay characters/stories and only one is play.  

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:15pm

A good actor or actress can and should play any role that they able to persuasively play- not all actors are right for every role- but a person's sexual identity, racial identity, or gender- male, female, transgender- should not hinder a performance if they are right for the role.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:16pm

Sondheimite said: "Equating the ludicrous idea of "gay face" to, by using the name "gay face", to black/yellow/red/brown face that white actors used to but on (and still do in community theatre productions of The King and I all over America) is a little... upsetting and off base while boarding on downright demeaning to the actual problem of white people playing people of color."

It’s actually a perfect term as it equates race with sexuality, as something inherent to the person and not something that can be put on or taken off. 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 7:19pm

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "Certain LGBTQ storieshave been told (not much in the way of trans actually but that's consistent with real life) and they are sort of from the same demographic and some times it feels like they all have one voice (they don't but that's what happens with they dominate the story). There's way more stories to tell from LGBTQ authors and characters from different points of views and areas of life that Broadway has not explored yet. One reasonFun Homein 2015 was such a revelation was because it hit so many new notes with the telling of a woman'shistory grappling with her sexuality, meeting gender standards, and her father's sexuality. Although the story of coming out or being "gay" has been tackled on Broadway before, it was never really tackled from that perspective with a butch lesbian being the main character."

This 100% Lesbian stories are completely underrepresented 

Fun Home was a revelation and I can’t wait to see it again in London