In my recent video, I discussed an "article" which discusses how black people shouldn't play "white" roles on Broadway. I am wondering if anyone else agrees with this is some ways. I personally disagree with this but would like to know other peoples thoughts and opinions. I do think though that there are black and white roles wit Pilar from Legally Blonde and Elder price in Book of Mormon.
Unfortunately some people do not have the character to admit it, but yes, there are many roles that can not be played by a black or white actor. It works both ways.
We should celebrate and accept the difference between black and white. Because it is not the same. Just like old and young and tall and short are not the same.
I was wondering if a black elder price or Cunningham could work.
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Call_me_jorge said: "I was wondering if a black elder price or Cunningham could work.
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I don't think it would be as funny, and that's kind of the point of the show, to be funny I mean. Part of the humor, I thought, was that they stood out so much by being Mormon, and being white. That may just be how I interpreted it though.
When Pearl Bailey played Dolly Gallagher Levi the audiences accepted the fact that she was black and sat back to enjoy one of the most remarkable makeovers in a musical.
KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "That's not an "article." It's a trolling post. You probably wrote it. And pretty much everyone with a brain can agree it's ridiculous.
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He's a 17-18 year old kid FFS. At least he's trying to discuss something, you don't have to tell him he's stupid. That's seriously messed up.
If a person can capture the essence of a character, I don't care what color she is, let her do it. I've always wanted to see a black male play the governess role in a version of Henry James The Turn of The Screw. Maybe John Legend?
¿Macavity? said: "Call_me_jorge said: "I was wondering if a black elder price or Cunningham could work.
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I don't think it would be as funny, and that's kind of the point of the show, to be funny I mean. Part of the humor, I thought, was that they stood out so much by being Mormon, and being white. That may just be how I interpreted it though."
I think a black Elder Price could absolutely work and would be an interesting spin on an already flawed character. Imagine the impact of him singing a lyric like, "And I believe that in 1978, God changed his mind about black people."
As far as white people playing "black roles," and vice-versa, I don't think it's a two-way street, first and foremost being that black actors and actresses aren't afforded the same opportunities -- and even fewer for Latino, Asian, and Arab actors.
What does it say that some of us can accept the most outlandish things on stage, as well we should - verse, song, orchestral accompaniment, synchronized choreography, magic, the supernatural, science fiction, intended anachronism - but skin color jarring with our sense of who a character is? That's a challenge?
(And, no, I'm not talking about those cases where skin color might be a thematic concern; one which, in any case, might be honored either in the observance or the breach)
When Pearl Bailey played Dolly Gallagher Levi the audiences accepted the fact that she was black and sat back to enjoy one of the most remarkable makeovers in a musical.
Um, the ENTIRE cast was also black so a black Dolly Levi didn't stand out with Pearl Bailey. Now, if Bailey played Dolly opposite a white Horace, then this would be grounds of discussion especially in the 1960s. Same scenario with the all-black casts of GUYS & DOLLS, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, etc. Things would be different if the cast was racially mixed but they weren't in these productions.
Then there's Toni Braxton as Belle in Disney's BEAUTY & THE BEAST where she was a black Belle with a white father, a white Gaston and a white Beast/Prince. At least she had a black Lumiere with Meshach Taylor.
In the words of Conan O'Brian, "Kent State just cast a white Martin Luther King. And they rewrote his speech to say, 'I have a dream... to one day see Coldplay live.'"
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with an actor of color as Nick,
Hedda Gabler with an actor of color as Judge Brack,
The Beggar's Opera with an actor of color as Polly,
The Caine Mutiny Court Marshall with actors of color as Maryk, Southard, and Lundeen,
Lysystata with actors of color as Lysystrata and several others,
Anything Goes with actors of color as Reno Sweeney and others,
The Taming of the Shrew with actors of color as Petruchio and others,
And these productions were all at least 30 years ago. There have been many more since. Just get out there, folks - you'll see it happen. It's not cutting edge.
Hellob said: "KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "That's not an "article." It's a trolling post. You probably wrote it. And pretty much everyone with a brain can agree it's ridiculous.
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He's a 17-18 year old kid FFS. At least he's trying to discuss something, you don't have to tell him he's stupid. That's seriously messed up.
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I have no idea how old he is and, in any case, that has no effect on the fact that color-conscious casting is widely accepted and the notion of "white roles" is offensive (even if the thread title has been altered to try to make it less so).