Norm Lewis as Javert- Page 6

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 2:30pm

Tonya, It was your condescending yap that caused me and a few others to be taken aback, and the reason I said the thing about my bf. I regret that I did. You totally missed the concept of that, just like you missed the whole thread's concept. Keep speaking your mind with that chip on the shoulder....just make sure you stock up on the tux shirts for all the catering jobs that are down the road.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 4:07pm

Absolutely not!
Oklahoma's time and setting merely set the stage for the Drama that unfolds. It's a universal piece, and I don't believe any of the libretto, book, or lyrics include things like "We're white! And we're living in Oklahoma!"

I would hope that we'd be able, in 2006, to look past race, which is not even remotely important in a piece like Oklahoma.
I could understand if maybe the black actor playing Curly, or whoever spoke in in a stereotypical quote-unquote black voice (I don't like to use black as an adjective except when describing color). But not every black person speaks like that. In fact, many don't.

I think the problem is, no one (agents and some audiences) wants to see an African-American, Asian, blue, and green people play anything except their type.

Fiyero can be black, as long as he brings some "urban" sensibility to the role. I wouldn't suspect, (and this could very much be a very untrue statement) they'd hire a black actor who has a similar voice and acting style when they could just hire a white person.

Should black people never be in Shakespeare plays, then?
And no, a black person should never play Captain Von Trapp, or Father in Ragtime.

Yes, there are parts written specifically for blacks, Coalhouse Walker, Belize, Joe. And there are shows that are written with black people in mind, like The Wiz, or Once on This Island. But many high schools and regional theatres have proved that white people can easily play these roles. Most Golden Age (and some contemporary) shows were written with white people in mind, yes, and I think we are just barely starting to see that multi-racial casting can work, and be believable, and take absolutely nothing away from the piece.

Les Mis, I beleive, fits in that category where the show was written and cast with white people, but tour casting and Broadway casts have proved that it does not matter, in a piece that has absolutely nothing to do with race.

So, in short, this is why I believe, personally, in my humble, young, wide-eyed, let's all hold hands and get along, opinion, that I do not have a problem with Norm Lewis playing Javert in the Les Miserables mini-revival.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 4:10pm

Well put!

Posted: 7/9/06 at 4:15pm

I'm just waiting for the revival of Caroline, or Change starring Rebecca Luker. All's fair.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 4:18pm

D'oh.

I quit.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 7:56pm

With the set of pipes possessed by Mr Lewis, he can play anything

His "You Should be Loved" in Sideshow was ******* astounding

Updated On: 7/9/06 at 07:56 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 8:00pm

Tom, it actually wouldn't be fair. Luker couldn't carry that role off in any way, shape, nor form.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 8:18pm

Rath, beat me to it. Great minds. . .great minds.