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Post by jgblunners on Dec 7, 2021 17:36:54 GMT
To me, the quote from the casting call that was posted upthread doesn't suggest anywhere near as fundamental a re-evaluation of these characters as has been interpreted by others. In essence, all that it says is that the Delta Nu sisters should comprise people of various ethnicities and gender identities and that what links them as sorority sisters is their 'femme'-ness, however that is interpreted. This requires no re-writes (other than perhaps changing a few pronouns) and seems like a natural way to represent these minorities. I reckon that what they're aiming for here is similar to what we saw this summer with Carousel, where a non-binary performer played Mrs Mullins. To my knowledge, nothing in the script was changed to reflect the identity of the performer, but diversifying your casting like that is a good step towards achieving better representation of minorities.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Dec 7, 2021 23:34:05 GMT
This requires no re-writes (other than perhaps changing a few pronouns). Depends who they cast surely — if they go for a transwoman or somebody non-binary who's been through male puberty, that F5 belt they want is going to be falsetto isn't it? And that wasn't what it written to sound like. Anyway, isn't part of the point of Legally Blonde the fact that the characters are pretty much all stereotypes? |
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Post by westendlovers on Jan 29, 2022 16:57:03 GMT
Wondered if anyone had any updates about the casting for this?
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 29, 2022 17:07:29 GMT
Regents Park announce casting just before the beginning of rehearsals, which will be the very end of March so I wouldn't expect to hear anything for a bit
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Post by adrianics on Mar 16, 2022 8:45:40 GMT
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Post by ladidah on Mar 16, 2022 8:54:33 GMT
Will be seeing this for sure, love the show.
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Post by amp09 on Mar 16, 2022 9:06:14 GMT
Courtney has a great stage presence and the comedic style to nail this.
Not looking forward to the Six fangirls moving across to this.
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Post by keekio2 on Mar 16, 2022 9:18:43 GMT
I don’t know how I feel about the casting for Margot and Lauren Drew’s American accent in heathers wasn’t the best so this Gould be interesting
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1,933 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Mar 16, 2022 9:24:36 GMT
I’m not too sure about Courtney as Elle but will go in with an open mind.
Vanessa, Lauren and Grace would all have made brilliant Elles as well so it must have been hard for them to decide who to cast as who!
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Post by pomegranate on Mar 16, 2022 10:30:13 GMT
Courtney is PERFECT for this!! I can’t wait!
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Post by inthenose on Mar 16, 2022 12:00:54 GMT
Enormously predictable casting.
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Post by sprampster on Mar 16, 2022 12:33:02 GMT
Shame this wasn't Sophie Isaacs as we previously rumoured she would have been FAB
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1,933 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Mar 16, 2022 12:37:21 GMT
Shame it’s not Vicki Manser either, but I get that they want to move away from the traditional “white, slim” casting for Elle. I hope Vicki gets some other big role soon anyway, she’s such a talent.
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Post by sph on Mar 16, 2022 13:35:21 GMT
Shame it’s not Vicki Manser either, but I get that they want to move away from the traditional “white, slim” casting for Elle. I hope Vicki gets some other big role soon anyway, she’s such a talent. I understand that, but I do on the the other hand, think that well... isn't the whole "white, slim, pretty, blonde" thing kinda the whole point of the character? |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 16, 2022 13:52:35 GMT
Given that Elle is likened to Marilyn Monroe at least once, the lyrics do seem to have a certain aesthetic in mind.
We shall just have to see how things develop and how it all looks in reality
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Post by danb on Mar 16, 2022 14:06:59 GMT
Well I like Lauren Drew…
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Post by Seriously on Mar 16, 2022 14:18:51 GMT
Perhaps we could, I don't know, change a line or two to accommodate the casting?
Perhaps use "blonde" as a metaphor?
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Post by sph on Mar 16, 2022 14:44:00 GMT
Non-traditional casting is fine. Sometimes though, a character is written as a specific physical "type". And the plot of the play/musical/movie/whatever hinges on them being that specific type, so casting against it just... well it doesn't entirely work without a significant rewrite.
If you were doing Hairspray for example, you wouldn't have a skinny Tracy Turnblad because that would subvert the entire point of the character. I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm just trying to see how modern-day casting works when it opposes one of the main points of a story.
(please don't cancel me)
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Post by stuartmcd on Mar 16, 2022 14:48:02 GMT
Non-traditional casting is fine. Sometimes though, a character is written as a specific physical "type". And the plot of the play/musical/movie/whatever hinges on them being that specific type, so casting against it just... well it doesn't entirely work without a significant rewrite. If you were doing Hairspray for example, you wouldn't have a skinny Tracy Turnblad because that would subvert the entire point of the character. I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm just trying to see how modern-day casting works when it opposes one of the main points of a story. (please don't cancel me) Is Elle Woods being skinny a main point of the story? |
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Post by FairyGodmother on Mar 16, 2022 14:56:36 GMT
Isn't there a line where she says she used Brooke's video to get into shape to become Miss June or something? And they bond over it, although it's probably secondary to being Delta Nus. I think it's how she recognises her.
People in general weren't bothered by a clearly pregnant Gina Beck playing a character who definitely wouldn't have been pregnant.
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Post by sph on Mar 16, 2022 14:57:44 GMT
I meant that more as a Tracy Turnblad thing.
But, regarding Elle Woods - I guess... she IS supposed to be judged based on her conventionally attractive outward appearance, fitting the white valley girl "look". It is a specific stereotype. But that's... the point... is it not?
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Post by FairyGodmother on Mar 16, 2022 15:01:14 GMT
Everybody in Legally Blonde is a stereotype.
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Post by sph on Mar 16, 2022 15:04:47 GMT
Everybody in Legally Blonde is a stereotype. Well... yeah, that's what makes the story work. |
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Post by princeton on Mar 16, 2022 15:07:32 GMT
I notice that they've added a dramaturg to the creative team - so I expect that there will be some tweaking or at least a reappraisal/reinterpretation of the source material.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Mar 16, 2022 15:09:58 GMT
Yes — it's a quick shorthand. Both the audience and the other characters judge them based on the stereotypes. Like "if there's a brain in that hair" about Brooke. The whole thing is basically "don't judge a book by its cover", and the covers aren't particularly subtle.  |
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