WTF? MOTOWN UK CAST WHITE GUYIN BLACK ROLE

[troynow]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 1:35pm

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?

Updated On: 10/5/15 at 01:35 PM

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 2:35pm

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.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 2:38pm

LOL

 https://twitter.com/West_End_Frame/status/651081128271548416

[Tag]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 2:41pm

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

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 2:51pm

In Motown, race is a pivotal component of the show. We're talking about a real person in that instance. Whereas in Les Mis, Jean Valjean and Eponine are not based upon actual people. Race does not play into the themes of the show, and there's no reason why black actors couldn't play them. 

[newintown]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 2:59pm

"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]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 3:02pm

I don't see why white actors would ever need to be assigned roles of color in the US or in Europe. They already have plenty of opportunity as it is. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 3:09pm

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

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 3:10pm

Oh, Tag. People actually took the bait. Happy Monday!

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 3:17pm

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

[DeNada]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 4:18pm

Cupid Boy2 said: "I don't see why white actors would ever need to be assigned roles of color in the US or in Europe. They already have plenty of opportunity as it is. "

Remember that the UK does not equal Europe.  For better or for worse, some shows are frequently done with white actors on the mainland because there are so few capable minority actors in some countries - Hungary isn't exactly swimming in Asian actresses who can play Kim in Miss Saigon, for instance.  Perhaps that means there shouldn't be Hungarian productions of such shows, but... well, there are.