Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Eponine Cast as a Guy!
#1Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/25/17 at 7:38pm
I went to see Les Miserables at a community theatre, and the production there was pretty stellar. The costumes, the sets, the actors were all really great. And the one thing that really stood out for me was the casting of Eponine. They cast Eponine as a guy! So now, it was a guy (Eponine) who loves another guy (Marius) who loves a girl (Cosette). It was pretty interesting how they added the gay element into the story, and the audience didn't have a problem with it, in fact, they really enjoyed that bit. What are your thoughts on this casting decision?
thirtythirtyninety
Broadway Star Joined: 5/30/05
Sondheimite
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/14
#3Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/25/17 at 7:44pm
I wonder the legalities...where is this production?
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Updated On: 4/25/17 at 07:44 PM
#4Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/25/17 at 8:44pm
I actually saw this video just today. Kyle Dean Massey singing On My Own. It's a pretty great performance.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#5Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/25/17 at 8:49pm
I'm down for it. And when are we going to realize the phantom needs to be a girl?
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dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#7Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/25/17 at 10:06pm
Sondheimite wrote: I wonder the legalities...where is this production?
It would not (likely) be a sanctioned change and therefore go against their rights and royalties agreement. It also must be the school edition, as the full version is not available for production. This means that the entire cast must be 18 or younger. (which might still be the case here, but seems unlikely)
The contract for Les Miz, school version is VERY specific and detailed.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#8Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 12:02am
dramamama611 said: "Sondheimite wrote: I wonder the legalities...where is this production?
It would not (likely) be a sanctioned change and therefore go against their rights and royalties agreement. It also must be the school edition, as the full version is not available for production. This means that the entire cast must be 18 or younger. (which might still be the case here, but seems unlikely)
The contract for Les Miz, school version is VERY specific and detailed.
"
I know the rights to Les Miz are restricted right now on MTI but were they ever made available? A very well respected community theatre that I know of has done Les Miz and a few other titles before the rights became available— but with with permission. Maybe this production was granted rights in a similar way? However, I agree that the choice of a male Eponine was most likely NOT approved of.
Islander_fan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
#9Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 12:15am
MTI has had the rights for Les Miserables for a very long time. There are two versions out there, one is the school edition the other the regular version of the show.
If memory serves, in order to benefit a professional company of a given show, there is a certain distance (I forgot what that distance is exactly) that has to be in place between, say, a touring company of a show and an amateur production of the same show. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if, once the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables hit the road before coming to Broadway, that MIT restricted the rights to the show because of that. And, it wouldn't shock me on bit to find out the they are doing the same thing again now that the show is about to go back out on tour.
#11Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 1:39am
The "full" Les Miz was made available to both professional and community theatres years ago. I imagine though that availability has been dialed back with the 25th anniversary production. It can probably be performed if the tour has already been in the area.
#12Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 4:09am
I would be astonished if this casting change had been approved.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#13Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 5:00am
It is restricted now, but I don't know how long it's been that way. There are absolutely no productions listed as being licensed.
There's no guarantee that there is anything illegal going on....but I'm not confident about that. While I'm not trying to stir up problems, I was just addressing someone's question, I do hate when people try to skirt legalities.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#14Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 5:54am
Are women's rights organizations protesting now? Because it seems very American to make a problem out of this, to make sure the difference between men and women is properly magnified and emphasized.
Updated On: 4/26/17 at 05:54 AM
#15Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 6:21am
Thank god. I thought you were going to say that this was the casting for the tour
Updated On: 4/26/17 at 06:21 AM
#16Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 8:45am
I love this idea.
I've also envisioned a variation on Phantom of the Opera that changes Christine to Christopher, and perhaps has the Phantom groom him to become the next great ballet star.
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MyLife
Broadway Star Joined: 12/2/06
#17Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 9:03am
As long as the character was still named Eponine and the script didn't change there wouldn't be anything illegal.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#18Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 9:48am
MyLife said: "As long as the character was still named Eponine and the script didn't change there wouldn't be anything illegal. "
You're actually 100% wrong. These types of gender changes are seen as significant, and thus illegal, as it purposefully changes the intent of the authors' original work product; that is a violation of the licensing contract the licensee signs with the licensor. Unless the authors explicitly permit a variation of genders for a specific role (or an entire cast) in writing, this would be a clear breach of the licensee's contract.
#19Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 9:55am
^MyLife seems spot on here. I don't know how any of this could possibly be deemed illegal. MTI doesn't have a say over casting choices. The only thing they would get involved with is unapproved changes being made to the script. If the character was still billed as "Eponine" and no lyrics/dialogue was altered, then everything is fine.
There's a long history of gender switching roles in theater. I did a production of Millie where Mrs Meers was played hilariously by a man. Original cast members saw the show, it worked wonderfully, and no one needed anyone's permission to make that directorial choice. And schools/community theater frequently cast female actors in male roles due to a general lack of young men involved in theater. (And if MTI came down on a gay love story could you imagine the backlash?)
I think it's an interesting choice. I'd certainly love to see a man with a high belt tackle On My Own to see how it played.
#20Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 9:56am
It depends if the company got approval for the gender switching. Tituss Burgess played the Witch in "Into the Woods" a few years ago and there seemed to be a lot of talk about it.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#21Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 9:59am
MyLife seems spot on here. I don't know how any of this could possibly be deemed illegal. MTI doesn't have a say over casting choices. The only thing they would get involved with is unapproved changes being made to the script. If the character was still billed as "Eponine" and no lyrics/dialogue was altered, then everything is fine
Again, 100% incorrect. Feel free to reach out to any dramatic licensing agency and confirm as much.
#22Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 10:42am
The first/second page of the script describes the gender and age of the characters in any play. So yes, you' are drifting from the script if you make such changes. Some shows strictly require specific age, gender, even racial requirements for certain characters. Eponine cannot be played by a guy in a licensed (legal) production unless the MTI has approved it. It might even need to come from authors (or their estate) directly if they have that stipulated in their contract. Next thing you know, they'll cast a female Marius (which might make the role a lot less annoying), but it will completely change that character.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#23Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 11:13am
With Les Mis and Phantom there are very specific caveats relating to casting. They are very specific in banning single gender casts, for example.
Unless they had specific permission (as was the case with Tituss in a PROFESSIONAL production), community groups would be in breach of their license.
From a dramaturgical point of view, there is meant to be a distinct comparison/ contrast between the lives of Eponine and Cosette. Making Eponine a boy diminishes this.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#24Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 11:37am
As long as there are no changes to the text, what exactly would make this illegal?
Also, gender and sexuality being fluid in life, why not on stage? And why any more or less fluid than ethnicity or color?
Not that I'm nec. in love with this particular idea. The desperate queer man tragically in love with a straight boy cliche doesn't thrill me as a reimagining of Eponine.
Now a female Marius loved in return by a female Cosette but desperately adored by a male Eponine..... not that I'm seriously suggesting it, but it would be much more intriguing and, truer to the spirit of Les Mis, far more radical and empowering.
Islander_fan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
#25Eponine Cast as a Guy!
Posted: 4/26/17 at 11:58am
henrikegerman said: "As long as there are no changes to the text, what exactly would make this illegal?
Also, gender and sexuality being fluid in life, why not on stage? And why any more or less fluid than ethnicity or color?
Not that I'm nec. in love with this particular idea. The desperate queer man tragically in love with a straight boy cliche doesn't thrill me as a reimagining of Eponine.
Now a female Marius loved in return by a female Cosette but desperately adored by a male Eponine..... not that I'm seriously suggesting it, but it would be much more intriguing and, truer to the spirit of Les Mis, far more radical and empowering.
It's against the law because it's an alteration period. It has nothing to do with being gender fluid in this day and age. If MTI says that the role is played by a female then the role has to be played by a female. It's as simple as that. I'd bet that this production made this alteration without getting permission from MTI, hence it being illegal. Are there local productions of snows that local companies alter after getting rights by MTI? You bet there are. But it's like the old expression about jumping off the Empire State Building. Just because everyone else does it doesn't mean that you have to/can/should.
