WTF? MOTOWN UK CAST WHITE GUYIN BLACK ROLE

troynow said: "

Samuel Edwards cast as Jackie Wilson for Motown in THE UK....

here is the real Jackie Wilson

I AM ALL FOR COLOR BLIND CASTING WHEN IT WORKS....BUT THIS IS JUST SILLY.... I SAW THIS SHOW ON BROADWAY WITH A FABULOUS JACKIE WILSON HOW COME THEY DIDNT GET HIM?

"

He has confirmed on Twitter that it is definitely not him. There's probably a different actor named Samuel Edwards, who is black.

Sounds like it's not him.

But how is this different from an African-American actor playing an early 19th century Eponine of Valjean?

Updated On: 10/5/15 at 02:41 PM

"But how is this different from an African-American actor playing an early 19th century Eponine of Valjean?"

I doubt that this could be explained to your satisfaction via this medium, but suffice it to say that we are not yet at a place in our evolution where roles of color can acceptably be assigned to white actors. At least in the US and Europe, that is - I doubt if anyone on this board has any interest in questions of racial casting and portrayal in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, or Latin America. In fact, there may be many who think that racism only happens in countries with a white majority or hegemony.

I doubt if anyone would see any problem with a production of Othello in Japan, with a Japanese actor playing the title role, an attitude which is, I suppose, just another face of racism itself.

Cupid Boy2 said: "In Motown, race is a pivotal component of the show. We're talking about a real person in that instance."

I wonder what George Washington and Aaron Burr would have to say about this.

Updated On: 10/5/15 at 03:09 PM

I think my obliviousness to sarcasm is a sign that I probably shouldn't be taking these afternoon breaks from work, haha. Touche, CATSNYrevival.

Updated On: 10/5/15 at 03:17 PM