| re: Drinks with two Great Comet cast members | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 07:21 pm EDT 08/06/17 | |
| In reply to: re: Drinks with two Great Comet cast members - Singapore/Fling 06:39 pm EDT 08/06/17 | |
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| Sure, but you don't have to say "this happened because Oak was black" if you are deeming necessary to include "white man" in your description of household name/theater legend Mandy Patinkin when describing the situation. People weren't outraged because "famous theater legend takes over for unknown actor in lead role". And yes they didn't mention the box office as the reason until after but come on, I feel like that is pretty implied when a star is brought into a show especially replacing an UNKNOWN (outside of real Hamilton fans - cause I'll say again, I saw Hamilton, loved it, and I'm huge theater follower - I didn't know this guy by name). I suppose I can see how if someone only choses to take the facts of "Mandy to replace Oak 3 weeks before Oak's scheduled performances were done" that could seem like they might not have liked Oak's performance, which is their right to decide if they pay out his remaining weeks. But only when you add "White Mandy to replace Black Oak... for no apparent reason" one could try to spin a racism thread. But that ignores the reality that Mandy is an acclaimed actor and household name who is even better suited to the role. The biggest issue here to me seems to be that the Kagans released a story saying that Mandy saw the show, loved it and said he'd love to do Pierre... and then (presumably, I don't remember) those 3 weeks were the only ones he could do and they overlapped with Oak. I can see more how that (untrue) story can be twisted into "black man has job, white man wants job, they fire black man and give it to white man"... and it is very much the Kagans fault for not being more truthful and for not controlling the narrative of this decision and transition. BUT even if this story were how it happened, it doesn't change that Oak wasn't bringing in box office, the show had no advance and the producers were scared, and also the possibility that they didn't love Oak in the show and word of mouth wasn't strong or building for him (not saying it's true but it is possible and I did hear two "meh" reports on his performance), and when Mandy became available they hired him and paid out Oak's contract, which is all perfectly "show business" and above board, even if it doesn't *seem* fair to Oak, I maintain that this isn't only about him and what is fair, it's about a whole big broadway show and trying to keep it going... and I do not want to play the "boy should be grateful" song, because it's not how i mean it, but I do think (as I've said so many times) that he is VERY lucky he was ever cast in this lead role given his relative but very real no-nameness and limited experience (none of which is as a lead of a Broadway show) and unfortunately things didn't work out the way anyone would have liked with the ticket sales. ANYWAY my point is that you do not have to say "they were racist" when the way you tell it or state the situation you're objecting to is "black man fired so white man could be hired"... the racism is VERY clearly implied already. |
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