Mamma Mia's first black Donna - Page 2
Mamma Mia's first black Donna
#25Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 12:24pm
I should have just kept my mouth shut.
BUT: yes, it can happen. I didn't say it can't. It's just UNLIKELY. And if we're dealing with realism, it generally makes more sense to have actors of the same race playing family members.
THAT SAID, it's Mama-friggin'-Mia, it's a silly musical, it's not realism, and if we can believe that their thoughts and feelings are best reflected by the lyrics to "Dancing Queen," then we can believe that a black Donna had a white biological daughter.
In regards to my comment about Rashida Jones: She's beautiful, as many mixed-raced people are. And casting shows realistically has nothing to do with being racist, so everyone just chill out and find another soap box to stand on. I'm done.
#26Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 12:37pm
You're the one on the soap box, yo.
CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#27Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 4:57pm
She's beautiful, as many mixed-raced people are.
Fixed that for you.
Updated On: 12/12/13 at 04:57 PM
#28Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 5:18pm
From a recent Buzzfeed article on everyday racial microaggressions:
#30Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 9:03pmYeah, I saw that article. Not sure what it has to do with casting a play though.
#31Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 9:12pmTo my mind it has to do with the notion that a white and a black parent would most likely yield only a black-looking child and the way that notion might shape the reaction of an audience member at "Mamma Mia."
#32Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 10:00pm
Making assumptions based on probability is not in and of itself a microagression. And being a confused audience member and a rude jerk to someone's face are two different things.
I've moving on now. You kids play nice.
#33Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 10:04pm
I'm not sure what your point is. Several posts on this thread reminded me of something that I'd seen earlier this week that seemed pertinent. If you don't see a connection you're welcome to ignore my contributions.
Sorry you're upset.
#34Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 10:06pmThe other thought that occurs to me is yes, there is a difference between an audience member thinking "Huh, why do you look white if your mother is black" and someone saying it to someone's face. But it's really only a matter of degree. Again, my opinion; I don't require anyone to agree with me.
#35Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 12/12/13 at 10:50pmThank you for being cordial. It's definitely an issue that merits thoughtful conversation, although I'm not sure this is the best environment for it. However, I agree that the two are only a degree away, the difference being whether or not one chooses to express their assumption to others. It's one thing to make an assumption based on probability, but it's another to express it in a way that is insensitive.
#36Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 6/1/14 at 8:24pm
This is one of many many threads on the subject of non conventional casting wrt race/gender that this sentiment could apply to but the amazing Clive Rowe speaking about his "controversial" casting as Mr Snow in Carousel at the National Theatre recently had something quite beautiful and succinct to say on the (non) issue
"I think we're more intelligent than that as individuals... If we cannot be colourblind in a space where everything is possible, how are we going to be colourblind in life?"
I was lucky enough to see him and he was fantastic as usual. Safe/traditional/'racially accurate' (call it whatever you will) casting would have robbed the show of one of it's strongest assets and the man makes a pretty unarguable point.
The rest of the interview (with Marianne Elliott) is pretty interesting too.
Clive Rowe talks Carousel from 31'00
Updated On: 6/1/14 at 08:24 PM
#37Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 6/2/14 at 10:56amwould absolutely LOVE to stage an amateur production here where I live in Barbados, people here go crazy for ABBA music, but to my knowledge they dont have amateur rights out as yet, but if I were able to do it here it would end up being an all black cast and I would shift the setting from a Greek isle to a Caribbean one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#38Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 6/2/14 at 12:43pm
She sounds awesome. I don't think race, especially in this show, matters at all.
It's like people get so up in arms over a black person in Les Miz, or a black person in Phantom, when they're all set in France, yet they all speak with vaguely british accents? None of it makes sense. Who cares.
ajh
Broadway Star Joined: 5/6/11
#39Mamma Mia's first black Donna
Posted: 6/2/14 at 6:55pmI second the last post. She has an absolutely stunning voice and, to me, has the requisite attitude and likeability for Donna. I'd love to see her in the role. I looked up her website (her name's Ana Milva Gomes) and she has already played the leads in European productions of Sister Act and Aida. What are the odds she'll end up doing The Bodyguard if/when it gets a Vienna staging?!
