Hypocrisy
Let's try this one tonight. It strikes me as odd that we allow females to play male parts, and in fact, we really beg people to do this. In Shakespeare's time, no females were permitted. It was considered a break through when a female finally did appear on stage. Today, you can find the all-female versions of Shakespeare. I've included three links.
http://www.canadianshakespeares.ca/multimedia/imagegallery/m_i_8.cfm
http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/0620/shakespeare.php
http://www.chickspeare.org/
My question is, does it matter whether a female plays a female or a male plays a female? Does it matter if a black man plays a white man or vice-versa? If you say "yes", then I'm going to say, "Aren't you really the one enforcing the stereotype? What do you think?
MjB
P.S. Where's Scott Leverett???? Gantz? Hello???
http://www.canadianshakespeares.ca/multimedia/imagegallery/m_i_8.cfm
http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/0620/shakespeare.php
http://www.chickspeare.org/
My question is, does it matter whether a female plays a female or a male plays a female? Does it matter if a black man plays a white man or vice-versa? If you say "yes", then I'm going to say, "Aren't you really the one enforcing the stereotype? What do you think?
MjB
P.S. Where's Scott Leverett???? Gantz? Hello???
posted by Mr. Bair at 8:29 PM
22 Comments:
No, it doesn't matter. Actors should be able to play their part, whether that is another skin color, gender, species, whatever.
The only time it would matter would be if the audiences reaction is going to change drastically because of these changes. But Actors should be good enough to stretch the Audiences imagination.
No, it doesn't matter. so in the famous words of nelly, murphy lee and diddy..."shake ya tailfeatha"
No, not at all. I've never been against people playing parts of different gender/color. For that reason, Othello couldn't be played by a black person, because blacks weren't allowed to act either. However, they should be played as whatever they were written. So if the Shakespearettes want to play men and call it Shakespeare, let them do it. But they shouldn't change the parts to women and call it the original work.
Adam
PS - Kelly, you rock.
Merci beaucoup, Adam.
Et...je sais.
NO IT DOES NOT MATTER AT ALL!!!!!
Rossen
no, it shouldn't matter, and does not make a spit of difference to me.
i enjoy a challenge ...
... bwahhaha!!
I'm outie (but an inie) - Emily
Personally, I think that John's response is so eloquent that I'm almost ashamed to dabble my own writing skills. Well done.
MjB
Well ill stop being a rebel for a night and agree. We should be able to cross any lines we please, as long as were portraying the character correctly, no matter who the character is.
Okay then, I play the “devil’s advocate.”
Forget the issue of race for a moment.
My questions are:
·How does a man portray a woman correctly or vise versa?
·How can it be done correctly, in a High School, without becoming at least a little bit of a mockery?
·How can it be done without causing or encouraging any psychological/emotional damage to the actor?
·Is it possible that our insecurities and defense mechanisms aren’t completely bad, and maybe on some level they serve to protect us?
As long as the part is portrayed in the manner it was intended race,gender, etc. does not matter.
Just a suggestion-whatever production is decided upon we should reverse the roles and then answer this question. Experience changes everything...
I think it is entirely possible. In a high school included. Afterall if you are a true actor/actress you should be able to do whatever your mind and your imagination wants to as it is the willpower and ingenuity that drives your acting ability. Certainly any emotional connections can be experienced with both sexes and thus the emotional power behind a character should be no problem at all. And as for the audience reaction well they came to see a play and if they can not accept the need to open their minds and expand their view of the world enough that a male is playing a female or visa versa then they have not come for the art itself but merely for the socialization.
That's all well and good, but my question was HOW can this be done, not can it be done.
Beyond that, I think we are treading on thin ice when we, as actors, presume to know what is best for the audience.
Who are we to tell the audience what they should believe or accept? The truth is, the audience is our boss and they are our paycheck. At Boonsboro High School it doesn’t matter if a show doesn’t please the masses because parents, students, and alumni will come regardless, but in the real world the show must please the audience in some way.
Maybe it doesn’t matter what the audience thinks when acting is just a hobby, but when it’s a profession, the audience matters.
mr. bair, do you have 5 microphones that we coud use as props tomorrow? possibly...maybe...just 5?
Kelly,
I believe so. Do they need to work?
MjB
History:
Many moons ago Boonsboro did two shows in a row - One was the Wiz and one was the King and I.
Both shows were accepted for what they were without question from the audience.
In the Wiz, white actors played the part of "black" parts. In hindsight it was a little awkward, as the actors played the roles with overdone southern accents. There was no face paint used (beyond usual stage makeup).
The King and I saw (mostly the same) white actors playing asian roles. In the Wiz it really doesn't matter what color the actors are. But it does matter in the King and I. Some makeup was used to enhance the length of the eyes, but beyond that only the usual stage makeup was used. The actors had to make the parts. And in truth it was a bit Yule Brennerish (it's a description, work with me here).
By and large, Boonsboro is a different town now, you have a greater chance of a purist not only coming to the show, but actually saying something. I think if you go for it without apology I think a white actor can play the Moor. It's been done before, and one convention is to have most of the costumes to be light in color except for Othello who wears darker clothing - thus creating the same visual separation as having a black actor on a stage of whites.
In fact, if you do not have a strong black actor it would be a greater insult to cast them in the role simply because of their race. And the show would suffer for it.
As for cross gender casting, again, I feel it is possible that the best man for a role can be a woman. The text of any play allows for one level of interpretation. Actually putting live actors on stage allows for another - No pressure here Mr. B. but it's up to the director to make the right choice for the role and point them in the right direction.
...
Wow that was long - hopefully there is something useful in all that tripe.
Jason,
I love this post. This is history that precedes me, even if I am aware of it. Thanks Jason.
MjB
P.S. Jason, by the way, we are still dickering over the lighting board. The company insists that there are configurations that must occur. They claim that they are going to send a new quotation. Any thoughts?
The last post was from Mr. Bair, not Brad. He didn't sign out of my computer. Weirdo.
MjB
You have got to...
Swing it
Shake it
Move it
Make it
about how it will be done, it should be done the same way one portrays other characters,DUH! Analyze the character, mimic the character, become the character! tada! and the audience is generally there for entertainment and pleasure so i don't think that they would care or be too critical as long as they are entertained.Also, I most certainly 100% agree with John.
HOORAY FOR DRAMA ON WEDNESDAY!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.......
Okay, needed to let that out. Seriously, though (sniff) no more (sniff) drama...(sniff sniff) Eric, what's the melodrama expression for grief again?
Lauren, get your hoorays in now. In a few months, your time will come.
But for the record, Mr. Bair, as long as this blog exists, I will NEVER GO AWAY. I may be at college several states from here (ahem) but you won't be able to get rid of me. And you'll see my lovely shining face every day of this spring's production season. Whether you want to or not. (Wha-Ha-Ha-Ha).
Watkins - Jason is, perhaps the second oldest person on the blog, who predates both MjB & Bard @ Boonsboro. I had the fortune of working with Mr. Bair for two years before I graduated.
Mr. Bair - as far as the lighting board goes I find it hard to believe that there would need to be on-site configuration. Can you send me what they have on their current quote?
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