Oliver Twist dramatisation

[Nearly Sane]

Been listening to this over last couple of nights. It's very good, but some people have objected because Oliver and Bill Sikes are played by actors of colour. Given it's an audio I have to admit finding the objection to this bizarre.


https://www.radiotimes.com/audio/audiobooks/oliver-twist-brian-cox-audible-newsupdate/

[ad_orientem]

Yes, bizarre, seeing it's audio. I do like authenticity but then how far do you have take it? I don't really know the answer to that. Another example is criticism of the Rings of Power series. One might argue Hamlet should be white. At the same time someone else might object that the said actor isn't Danish. Difficult subjects.

[Harrowby Hall]

I have always believed that acting involves an individual pretending to be someone  he (or she) is not and using his (or her) skills to convince an audience of his (or her) authenticity. A recent film version of David Copperfield involved an actor of Indian ethnicity, Dev Patel playing the lead role. His performance wss excellent and his ethnicity was unimportant. Some years ago, the National Theatre production of Carousel fielded a black actor in the role of Enoch Snow.

However, in recent times, it appears that approaching this matter from the opposite direction is unacceptable. Therefore no caucasian actor is permitted to appear on the stage as - say - Othello.

A few years ago, at the Proms, John Wilson performed West Side Story and his intended Maria was Sierra Boggess, probably the best female musical theatre performer around. She turned down the opportunity to appear on the grounds that she was not "hispanic". My understanding of "hispanic" is ... well ... Spanish, a cultural rather than ethnic concept. Hy observation of Spanish women when I have visited Spain, is that they are indistinguishable from women from elsewhere in southern Europe, mainly - but not always - a little darker than women from elsewhere in Europe but still essentially caucasian. My suspician is that Americans have redefined "hispanic" to mean native Central Americans.

I can imagin the fuss there would be if some film director did not employ a Scottish actor to play Bonny Prince Charlie - whose first language was probably Italian!

[Nearly Sane]

I have always believed that acting involves an individual pretending to be someone  he (or she) is not and using his (or her) skills to convince an audience of his (or her) authenticity. A recent film version of David Copperfield involved an actor of Indian ethnicity, Dev Patel playing the lead role. His performance wss excellent and his ethnicity was unimportant. Some years ago, the National Theatre production of Carousel fielded a black actor in the role of Enoch Snow.

However, in recent times, it appears that approaching this matter from the opposite direction is unacceptable. Therefore no caucasian actor is permitted to appear on the stage as - say - Othello.

A few years ago, at the Proms, John Wilson performed West Side Story and his intended Maria was Sierra Boggess, probably the best female musical theatre performer around. She turned down the opportunity to appear on the grounds that she was not "hispanic". My understanding of "hispanic" is ... well ... Spanish, a cultural rather than ethnic concept. Hy observation of Spanish women when I have visited Spain, is that they are indistinguishable from women from elsewhere in southern Europe, mainly - but not always - a little darker than women from elsewhere in Europe but still essentially caucasian. My suspician is that Americans have redefined "hispanic" to mean native Central Americans.

I can imagin the fuss there would be if some film director did not employ a Scottish actor to play Bonny Prince Charlie - whose first language was probably Italian!

Braveheart?

[Nearly Sane]

I have always believed that acting involves an individual pretending to be someone  he (or she) is not and using his (or her) skills to convince an audience of his (or her) authenticity. A recent film version of David Copperfield involved an actor of Indian ethnicity, Dev Patel playing the lead role. His performance wss excellent and his ethnicity was unimportant. Some years ago, the National Theatre production of Carousel fielded a black actor in the role of Enoch Snow.

However, in recent times, it appears that approaching this matter from the opposite direction is unacceptable. Therefore no caucasian actor is permitted to appear on the stage as - say - Othello.

A few years ago, at the Proms, John Wilson performed West Side Story and his intended Maria was Sierra Boggess, probably the best female musical theatre performer around. She turned down the opportunity to appear on the grounds that she was not "hispanic". My understanding of "hispanic" is ... well ... Spanish, a cultural rather than ethnic concept. Hy observation of Spanish women when I have visited Spain, is that they are indistinguishable from women from elsewhere in southern Europe, mainly - but not always - a little darker than women from elsewhere in Europe but still essentially caucasian. My suspician is that Americans have redefined "hispanic" to mean native Central Americans.

I can imagin the fuss there would be if some film director did not employ a Scottish actor to play Bonny Prince Charlie - whose first language was probably Italian!

And on the Othello point if you cast 'authentically' given the predominance of white roles that would then restrict casting actors of colour in roles. It-s why a female Hamlet seems to me more palatable than a male Joan of Arc. Having seen Paul Schofield play Othello, blacked up, with a caricature of an accent, this seems to be a good thing to avoid.

[SteveH]

And on the Othello point if you cast 'authentically' given the predominance of white roles that would then restrict casting actors of colour in roles. It-s why a female Hamlet seems to me more palatable than a male Joan of Arc. Having seen Paul Schofield play Othello, blacked up, with a caricature of an accent, this seems to be a good thing to avoid.

Strangely, back in the 60s there was a much-lauded all black 'Othello'. I think it was set in contemporary America, and all the normally-white characters were mixed-race actors who were supposed to be Americans of some generations' standing, whereas Othello was African, and darker.