Audra Can't Be in "Sunday In The Park"- Page 2
Audra Can't Be in "Sunday In The Park"
MusicalDirector109
Leading Actor Joined: 5/16/03
#25re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 3:33pm
Bring it on: Audra as Eliza Doolittle - oh, yeah. I would LOVE that!!!
She is truly an example of the new Broadway royalty.
Leading Actor Joined: 12/31/69
#26re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 4:07pm
"The character of Dot is a fiction invented by Sondheim and Lapine -- she didn't actually exist (and the character of Seurat is also a fiction -- while such a person did exist, history recorded nothing about him other than he was a painter who died young .... the Seurat in the musical is an invention)."
Seurat did exist, I even saw his tomb in Paris at Pierre Lachese (Sp?)
#27re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 4:10pmsingingbackup - you didn't understand the statement- Margo meant that the character of Seurat in the musical is an invention - based solely on the fact that he did exist and was a painter - none of the actions of the plays characters can be said to have happened in real life. (other than the fact that the paintings represented were really painted by Seurat). Don't be so literal.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#28re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 4:39pm
I don't think that the statement -- which you quoted from my post --
"while such a person did exist, history recorded nothing about him other than he was a painter who died young"
could be ANY clearer. We know that a painter named Georges Seurat existed, died young and never sold a painting in his lifetime. That's it. The way he is depicted in the musical -- that he was anti-social, that he had a difficult relationship with the art establishment of his time, that he became a pointillist because he "wanted to break through to something new, something of his own" (rather than he found it to just be a neat way to paint), that had a mistress named Dot -- not a French name, by the way (rather than a secret wife or a gay male lover) is all fiction invented by Lapine and Sondheim.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Derek2
Broadway Star Joined: 8/10/04
#29re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:03pmI would have no problem seeing a black woman/man play a part that was originated by a white woman/man. If they fit the part (acting/singing/dancing) why not? The only thing that I think wouldnt really work is if a white/black person played a part that was based on a real person. Like Evita or something. She was a real person so you'd kinda want to cast someone who kinda looks like her. I don't want that to sound mean but I have a feeling if that was ever done, critics would say how it doesnt work and stuff and the show would close. But like a white Dorothy in the Wiz, there's nothing wrong with that. Another example is Motormouth Mabel (sp?) only because her race has something to do with the plot. Other than that, np :). I love Audra!
#30re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:09pmEverybody loves Audra. But the Wiz is a bit different than Sunday in the Park. The Wiz could take place anywhere/anytime with any actor in any role--why not? But Sunday in the Park while fiction, asks you to place yourself in 19th century Paris.
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
eyeonbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 6/11/04
#31re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:19pmI guess I'm missing something here. What possible difference can an actor's race have on a story unless race is critical to the character? I admit I'd have a tough time believing a white cast of Porgy and Bess or Raisin in the Sun, but that's just because race is central to the characters and deviating from that just draws unnecessary attention to the actor and away from the character. Race is not central to the character of Dot regardless of how she is portrayed in the painting so I would totally believe Dot well-played by a black actress like Audra.
#32re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:29pmBecause while plausible, a 19th century Parisian woman in that type of impressionist painting would probably not have been black. There are few (if any) impressionist paintings portraying that type of scene with a minority in them. I don't pay $100/ticket to sit through a casting directors PC choice. Audra is possibley our finest stage actress/singer, but there are many talented actresses who look like they'd actually be in a painting like that.
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
eyeonbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 6/11/04
#33re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:35pm
I guess I see what you're saying, but I know, for me, that it wouldn't cross my mind and certainly wouldn't be an obstacle to enjoying the performance. Not that much of a purist, I suppose.
#34re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:39pmWell it crosses my mind when it happens--no matter what the race/gender. I'm in the minority on this, however (pun intended.)
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
#35re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:46pmDid these kind of complaints come up when she played the beggar woman in the concert of Sweeney Todd? Updated On: 8/18/04 at 05:46 PM
eyeonbroadway
Broadway Star Joined: 6/11/04
#36re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:49pmI'm not criticizing; just trying to understand. It seems like black actors and actresses would continue to be at a severe disadvantage, then, until shows are written to "accommodate" their color and that sounds like a giant step back for society. At any rate, I respect your right to your opinion.
emssf03
Swing Joined: 8/12/04
#37re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 5:58pmIf Audra can't be Dot, then how did Diane Carroll get Norma Desmond in Sunset?
"Our lives become the stories we weave" - Once on this Island
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#38re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 6:15pm
There is an issue with casting a black beggar woman (at least if she's the only black person in the cast). The big surprise at the end is kinda blown.
In the end, however, these are concert versions...race of any sort should make no difference.
However, and I'm still waiting for an answer or at least a fun debate, how does one suggest one get around the fact that a black actress playing Dot would not look anything like either of the two paintings used to represent her on stage...or a black Black Beggar woman (assuming the most/the entire cast isn't black)?
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#39re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 6:26pmSuspension of disbelief. It happens in opera all the time.
Mr. Tuttle
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#40re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 6:31pm
I posted this thinking that the theater community would be as open-minded as I about non-traditional casting.
Let me say how shocked and saddended I am reading some of the most ignorant comments I have seen in a long time.
I guess these are the same people who had a hard time with African Americans in "Les Miz".
"Oh..but those wern't real people in the revolution! They're just characters!" you say. And a painting is real?
I had hoped that we, as theater people, would be the ones to blaze a trail in regards to breaking down racial sterotypes.
It's sad sad sad to see those who want to keep the walls up.
Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever.
Watch out BWW...
HE'S BACK.
Updated On: 8/18/04 at 06:31 PM
#41re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 6:39pmI guess i should expect that responsefrom someone who apparantly thinks an actor could play just about any part simply because they're talented, regardless of whether it's realistic for them to be in that role. All your whining about 'racial stereotypes' doesn't change that.
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
#42re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 6:40pm
I think the issue many people have is that there is no blakc woman in the painting itself.
However, if you decide to embrace the new idea, it makes total sense:
-George paints two paintings...one of her, and one of the park...where she is "everywhere" (i.e. she inspired the painting, but her likeness need not be in the painting)
-George is often painting things a different color than they are...the mans hat that was green is now red to him, if you recall.
-This makes George more complex because he makes the social move to date/be seen with a black woman, but he will not paint her as black...how interesting is that? And...how much more important does the line "you will be in this painting" become with this kind of casting.
I, for one, think casting Audra not only makes the role sung beautifully, but makes the show itself even more amazing than it already is.
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#43re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 7:25pmI don't even like Audra McDonald that much, but I find the argument that she can't play Dot to be ridiculous. Sunday in the Park With George isn't about historical accuracy or race at all- it's about the nature of art and artists. Dot, as Margo pointed out, is a completely made-up character. I've often wondered if a flat-figured actress would be cast in the role because of the lyrics about her figure in "Color and Light," but I never wondered about race. It doesn't matter.
Mr. Tuttle
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#44re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 7:25pm
Anyone else think midtown is just saying these things cause they're trying to get a rise outta people?
Come on...can someone be that racist?
Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever.
Watch out BWW...
HE'S BACK.
#45re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 7:27pm
"There is an issue with casting a black beggar woman (at least if she's the only black person in the cast). The big surprise at the end is kinda blown."
Yeah, especially after the character would have been described as pale and blonde. 
But you're right that it's not really an issue in concert versions.
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#46re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 7:29pmAnd did anyone really have a problem with Ms. McDonald being cast as Julie in the concert version of Carousel? How likely was an interracial couple back then? Updated On: 8/18/04 at 07:29 PM
#47re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 8:49pmi think it's funny that someone would find these comments racist! I guess i'm NOT the one who's closeminded.
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
#48re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 8:58pmi missed this announcement of the cast. is there a link with the cast listed?
Please visit Bitchy Waiter
#49re: Audra Can't Be in 'Sunday In The Park'
Posted: 8/18/04 at 9:26pmYou VILL agree that Audra can play the role OR ELSE you're a racist, mein heir!
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
Videos