Word: playing
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Linda Thurston '80, president of Black CAST, says. "If I were doing Garry's play, and wanted to do it realistically, I would probably not consider a black actor. If Tim's interpretation was that the play needed white actors only, he at least owed non-white actors the courtesy of specifying his needs before they tried out--which is what Black Cast...
...Almost all of the characters are white because the play is set in 1927. It's a comedy of manners, so detail and realism are important because we're commenting on the times. So there are only certain roles--the butler, the maid, the boxing coach, the Indian servant--that could be performed by someone nonwhite...
HRDC's Maguire, on the other hand, says, "Turning people away without giving them a chance is inexcusable, especially since some of the most dynamic people acting at Harvard now don't fall into any one theatrical complexion." She added that a play like "The Royal Family" is a dated vehicle, and needs deletion of offensive phrases like "shuffling two-bit." Marcela Davison, producer of "The Royal Family," says that she "never intended to have closed casting. That's a tenet of every show: I know that's a policy of HRDC...
...lead roles and did not get called back. "Ideally," he says, "it would be best if directors and the audience could disregard people's backgrounds, but I don't think they can." Yamamoto isn't sure whether his ethnicity prevented him from winning a part in Garry's play, but he says he has felt "discouraged" from seeking non-Asian parts because the audience may not be receptive...
...this point the controversy remains unresolved, plaguing the participants with feelings of self-doubt, guilt, anxiety and resentment. Hail refused to re-read for the part of Jo; Garry cast his play without him and has rehearsals fully underway...