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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2019 8:24:35 GMT
I understanding acting is acting. But this production made no attempt. To have a person of color or to have people that have the slightest resemblance to the people they are supposed to represent. I saw a production of Disney's Aladdin. And there was not only great acting They had people from all backgroundshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-22/west-side-story-revamped-at-opera-house/10924814
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 22, 2019 9:13:21 GMT
Setting aside the casting for a moment, it does look spectacular in the outside setting they have created. But the production is still very faithful to the original - they might be playing on a big space, but the choreography is the original. So it is rather odd to call it revamped. It is the same thing on a slightly bigger outdoor canvas.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2019 10:29:06 GMT
Setting aside the casting for a moment, it does look spectacular in the outside setting they have created. But the production is still very faithful to the original - they might be playing on a big space, but the choreography is the original. So it is rather odd to call it revamped. It is the same thing on a slightly bigger outdoor canvas. No one should see it. I am white |
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Post by mistressjojo on Mar 23, 2019 7:46:39 GMT
the production is still very faithful to the original - they might be playing on a big space, but the choreography is the original They probably didn't have a choice under the licence, of course. Yes, and the producer says in the story that the cast also has to be approved by the Bernstein estate. BTW, there are 2 separate productions with different casts. One is playing on the harbour stage atm, the other is a touring production that will also play at the Opera House later in the year. We don't have a huge talent pool of Latin actors in Australia. Narrow that down further to those who can sing & dance to the standard required for WSS, and those who bothered to audition, and those who even want the part for whatever reason, and you have even less choice. What is a producer to do when despite doing every thing they can to be inclusive, the best person for the role is still white? Should they cast a less able actor in the part just because they are Latina? Or just cancel everything till they find the right person? Some critics say they haven't tried hard enough. But in reality isn't there only so much time and money they can spend on the casting process ? Of course, none of us are privy to the workings of the casting directors' mind, but I'd like to believe they cast on talent not skin colour. |
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Post by ali973 on Mar 23, 2019 13:42:12 GMT
They probably didn't have a choice under the licence, of course. Yes, and the producer says in the story that the cast also has to be approved by the Bernstein estate. BTW, there are 2 separate productions with different casts. One is playing on the harbour stage atm, the other is a touring production that will also play at the Opera House later in the year. We don't have a huge talent pool of Latin actors in Australia. Narrow that down further to those who can sing & dance to the standard required for WSS, and those who bothered to audition, and those who even want the part for whatever reason, and you have even less choice. Then don't do it. It's really THAT simple. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 23, 2019 14:52:21 GMT
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 30, 2019 5:20:07 GMT
As I type this I am sitting in a hotel room in Dubai, in transit from Sydney onto London.
For the first time in 3 years I have been home for 6 weeks, attending two weddings and spending my first Birthday home in over 10 years and entered a completion in the local paper and won two tickets for the final dress performance of this production.
I love West Side Story, I really do. It was actually the first musical that I ever fell in love with, having performed in a production of it in High School. I also love the film, in particular the colours.
This production was outstanding. (Thank God) it didn't rain. In fact it was positively balmy.
The setting, with the sun setting over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Oper House with a massive cruise liner leaving the harbour is simply sublime.
I was concerned that West Side Story is dance show and this was Opera Australia, but I needn't have worried as the whole production was outstanding.
In terms of performance, the actress playing both Maria and Anita were terrific. Alas I don't know their names however the actress playing Maria not only had the vocal chops but the accent was perfect and the actress playing Anita just just enough fire to bring the character to life.
For me, the actor playing Tony was not strong enough in his stage presence.
For the Dance at the Gym scene, a giant mirror ball was lifted into position and all of the Jets girlfriends has a pleated dress of every colour in the rainbow whereas the Shark girls all wore dresses of varying shades of reds, crimsons and maroons.
The most significant changes were the swapping around of the songs Gee Officer Krupke and Cool.
When the song America was performed, it was only done so by the Shark females, with the guys leaving the stage. There were however some lyric changes and when the song finished fireworks went off, awakening and freaking out all of the sleeping flying bats.
The orchestra were positioned under the stage and despite the odd flickering light due to the amount of rain we had previously experienced, it all went off smoothly.
Personally, I am non-plussed about whitewashing. I care more about the quality of the production. I do appreciate how lucky I have been to have seen this production as this was outstanding!
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Post by mistressjojo on Mar 30, 2019 9:25:08 GMT
Thanks for the review anthony40. I'm hoping to pick up a $40 rush ticket one night, but as you know the weather has been a bit of an issue. (I did see the show continued on through a down pour one night - the Sharks were really swimming!) |
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 30, 2019 10:35:04 GMT
No problems.
I hope you enjoy (and yes I am completely aware as to how temperamental the weather has been in Sydney). Sharks swimming. I love it!
According to their website, raining or not, the performance will go ahead.
If you can grab a cheap dayseat then go for it! I was luck enough to win my tickets and that was for the final dress rehearsal. If I read correctly, tickets start at $99 Aus.
But I implore you, as long as the weathers good, go and see it!
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 5, 2019 18:58:54 GMT
It’s so so so so so tedious that people now EXPECT casting to be the exact type. Time for scousers to ONLY be cast in Blood Brothers? Please ZZZZZZZZZ
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