tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175731571680674348.post7815295411110871278..comments2024-03-16T03:58:59.468-07:00Comments on Good Life Northwest: 5th Avenue Theater Responds to Controversy Over Musical "Oklahoma!"Candace Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03010940176539330697noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175731571680674348.post-84020964190511988772012-02-17T11:12:41.154-08:002012-02-17T11:12:41.154-08:00I have been reading the reviews and speaking with ...I have been reading the reviews and speaking with peeps who have seen it to get a wider perspective. I have trouble seeing how this is "blind-casting." If one is to cast multi-racial--which we SHOULD do!! Why choose only one lead as a person of color? If only one lead is to be an actor of color--then why would that one be a character who 1. is the villan 2. is told to hang himself by a white man fingering a rope 3. is a character who (in this production) brutally rapes a white girl 4. and--after his death -- an almost mock-trial relieves the white man of any burden or responsibility for his death. Yes. I know Jud rushes Curly and Curly defends himself. That is in the play. However, once the almost mock-trial has race added to it... it is no longer hero vs villain-- but becomes something ever so much more complicated. And that was not, I believe, intended by the original creative team: Oscar & Hammerstein. <br />Stimulating a conversation that explores the Human Condition--both past and PRESENT-- is what art and theatre are all about- Dammit! The question of intentionality: did the 5th's creative team make the choice to stimulate controversy-- to stimulate a conversation-- or did they somehow not see that the choice could be found offensive or in poor taste by many? Whatever the intention, I am hopeful that the outcome will continue to be a conversation-- and not devolve into mud-slinging in either direction. I believe strongly, those of us who create art do have to take responsibility not only for our product but also for our choices and for the intentions behind the choices. The 5th is having open forums to encourage the conversation. That is good.Elizabeth Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175731571680674348.post-81875044669934599612012-02-17T02:24:59.700-08:002012-02-17T02:24:59.700-08:00@Anonymous While I agree with you, my overall res...@Anonymous While I agree with you, my overall response to your evaluation is "so what". Even if Mr. Armstrong is opening the discussion as an afterthought, he is opening the discussion. He has owned that, whether or not it was intended, this issue has been raised and is important. I salute the 5th for being willing to tackle the repercussions of their choices, whatever their original motives were.thepanthespianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825526974106273650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175731571680674348.post-43223091248464949882012-02-16T18:16:37.601-08:002012-02-16T18:16:37.601-08:00You know, I had no interest in seeing this product...You know, I had no interest in seeing this production for the nth time, but now I am quite tempted! Seldom has one of the old tried and true favorites garnered so much attention.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669783351877677661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175731571680674348.post-34075327889651824342012-02-16T11:30:54.470-08:002012-02-16T11:30:54.470-08:00As a theatre artist, I am all for creating dialogu...As a theatre artist, I am all for creating dialogue and people leaving the theatre talking. But it seems like the artistic team is using that general desire as a post-conceptual justification for their controversial choice. That is, people are talking about the casting decision and reacting with offense; and it appears that Mr. Armstrong is trying to make it seem as if that's the sort of conversation he wanted to open up with the casting decision. If that's the case (to provide an certain unnecessary shock value for its own sake, rather than part of a more coherent production concept), he might be missing the ball a bit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com