Larry introduced Bernhardt - a very interesting subject here. She did play a
number of travesti roles, notably Hamlet. Critics hated her performance,
calling it 'shrill'. She defended her right to play male roles by saying
that she was playing the characters' minds rather than their bodies. In her
posthumously published guide to acting, she claims that only the physically
perfect should pursue a career in acting, carefully avoiding any reference
to the fact that she had no intention of letting her own impairment keep her
from acting.
In reply to Maria, I agree that there isn't really any argument for saying
that disabled people shouldn't play other disabled people. There is,
however, a problem with impairment-specific casting in realistic drama. If
it is decided that the actor's body should 'match' the body that is
described in the script, then writers get to implement their own views of
impairment and disability. Also, if disabled actors are always cast as
disabled characters as a matter of policy, then there is no logical reason
why non-disabled characters should not be played by non-disabled actors in
the interests of realism. This runs against the interests of disabled
performers.
There is a question also about which characters can be said to be disabled.
If Hamlet (sorry to keep using this example) is played by a disabled actor,
then isn't the Hamlet of that performance also disabled?
Colette.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Arnold" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: Moulin Rouge - without Crips?
> WRT to shakespere, in the 19th century I believe Sarah Bernhardt played
male
> lead roles, she was a crip too,
>
> As for non whites blacking up, what about Ben Kingsley playing Ghandi,
that
> caused quite a controversy I recall
>
> maybe they should remake the rainman so I can get to play the Dustin
Hoffman
> characther, trouble is I am rather inumerate :)
>
> Larry
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lilah Pengra
> > Sent: 04 September 2001 19:08
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Moulin Rouge - without Crips?
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
>
> original post snipped for brevity>
>
> ________________End of message______________________
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