At long last, I have had more than a day to recover from our 3 hour romp through Egypt and Rome. I have learned much about myself and what most impassions me. I love being around all of the creative energy that comes to the table, and I long to be creatively challenged in every way, shape, and form. Shakespeare's language and depth of relationships are lovely to mine, and I want to do more of this work. Can I? Most recently, I have observed the absence of Black Women in classical theatre. I am asking those of you who are reading, please direct me to the Black women who are leading ladies in classical theatre. As I experience a really wonderful performance of Cleopatra, I cannot let go of the nagging thought of trying this role with a woman of color. To my knowledge, it has not been done to note. I do believe a few sisters have done the role (Tamara Tunie), but they have not been at the major regional, Off-Broadway or Broadway houses. What would this piece look like if we really dared ourselves to imagine this sexy, powerful woman as a woman of color who topples kingdoms and loves the greatest leaders of the world?
Though there is a daring nature to having Antony be a man of color, this particular racial dynamic is very comfortable to most audience members. It feeds into a stereotype that has been in place since slavery. A black man who covets the prize of the white race, its woman. What we see less of, and what I believe is more unsettling, maybe even unbelievable for audiences, is a White man loving a Black woman. Robert De Niro has been doing it for decades!!! Watching the very symbol of patriarchy desiring and loving a Black woman could be devastating to patrons of a certain generation...if you know what I mean. I assume theatres might fear losing those patrons as a result; however, I believe truly lovers of the arts will fill the seat to capacity to watch unfold relationships that they fear to imagine or even about which they fantasize. I am getting goose bumps just thinking about that beautiful scene unfolding. We would all hold our collective breaths, bite the communal bottom lip and wait with bated breath to see every scene unfold.
Imagine if you will, Cleopatra, a beautiful African woman, strong in will, love, lust, and the desire for power being swept up in. Can we dare to even envision ourselves as such? If we can, let's make this happen. I'm showing up. I hope you will too!
Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteI find the low number of roles for women in classical theatre to be generally frustrating. As an actress of color, there is the added problem when one considers that outside of leading lady roles, the available womens' roles often collide head on with troubling stereotypes of women of color: servant roles (handmaiden, lady in waiting, nurse...) or trollop (king's whore, pope's mistress...). As a result, directors may be shy about casting a woman of color in such roles especially if she will be the only WOC in the production. It is unfortunate that WOC are often not considered for the lead roles due to the reasons you discussed in your post. As a result of our society's racial squeamishness, I see a lot more black men in interesting roles in classics than black women. Recently, a black actor, Billy Porter, portrayed Dido Queen of Carthage in a reading at 92nd St. Y. It was an all male cast. That said, it is telling when you examine how and when daring casting choices are made in contemporary theatre and who tends to benefit from them and who doesn't - rarely are they to the advantage of actresses of color.
Josey Nicole Housley (Josey Flyte)