Jman383
|
Sheila: Black or White? Thoughts?Okay, so my question is, what did everyone think about Sheila being black in the most recent revival? Any problems with it? Didn't care? Liked it better?
For me, it doesnt really matter I guess. I suppose my only problem with it, is the fact that, since the show takes place during the 70's, and Sheila talks about how her father was in a wealthy social class when he met her mother, which would have been in the 40's maybe early 50's (since Sheila is 30). My problem with this, is the fact that not really any African Americans were in a high social status at this point in time, were they? I'm not at all trying to be racist, this is just my conclusion, since it's pre-Civil Rights. I dunno.
However, don't kill me, my favorite Sheila ever is in the movie. She had me dying at times. My favorite bit in the entire movie is where she starts fixing her hair in the mirror, and when Larry scolds her, she says simply, "I knew it better in the front." hahaha. Soo good.
Anyways, thoughts?
|
broadwaybirdie
|
Hmmm, well when I saw it, I didn't mind at all. My main problem with her was that she was a bad singer!
|
Jman383
|
| broadwaybirdie wrote: | | Hmmm, well when I saw it, I didn't mind at all. My main problem with her was that she was a bad singer! |
Haha I know, right? I found her voice weak as well.
|
jarrod001
|
It didn't make it as funny when Richie announced he was black...
|
Adie
|
I honestly do not think it matters at all. The character was played well, 40's-50's- yes there would be wealthy black men (not so much women, unless the wife) especially in the 'arts scene'. IE artists, musicians, producers, gallery owners, historians and to an extent professors and lecturers.
Open your eyes, mind and heart to this.
|
Jman383
|
| jarrod001 wrote: | | It didn't make it as funny when Richie announced he was black... |
Oh my god, I totally forgot about that line! Yeah, I can definitely see where the comedy was lost there!
| Adie wrote: | I honestly do not think it matters at all. The character was played well, 40's-50's- yes there would be wealthy black men (not so much women, unless the wife) especially in the 'arts scene'. IE artists, musicians, producers, gallery owners, historians and to an extent professors and lecturers.
Open your eyes, mind and heart to this. |
Forgive me, I was not being racist at all, what so ever. I'm not racist either. I just assumed that since it was pre-Civil Rights, most black men and women were not extremely wealthy. I mean, in fact, no one was really wealthy during the 30s, which is when they could have met (depending on when they met to when they had Sheila), so I was just kind of rounding an assumption
|
Vikefantam
|
Re: Sheila: Black or White? Thoughts? | Jman383 wrote: | Okay, so my question is, what did everyone think about Sheila being black in the most recent revival? Any problems with it? Didn't care? Liked it better?
For me, it doesnt really matter I guess. I suppose my only problem with it, is the fact that, since the show takes place during the 70's, and Sheila talks about how her father was in a wealthy social class when he met her mother, which would have been in the 40's maybe early 50's (since Sheila is 30). My problem with this, is the fact that not really any African Americans were in a high social status at this point in time, were they? I'm not at all trying to be racist, this is just my conclusion, since it's pre-Civil Rights. I dunno.
However, don't kill me, my favorite Sheila ever is in the movie. She had me dying at times. My favorite bit in the entire movie is where she starts fixing her hair in the mirror, and when Larry scolds her, she says simply, "I knew it better in the front." hahaha. Soo good.
Anyways, thoughts? |
Hmm Don't know about most current Sheila. Every Sheila I've seen has been an older white woman. I'm going to see JCS for the umpteenth time soon (and again with Ted Neely - who surprisingly can still pull off the role of a man who died in his early 30's) and am wondering who is taking Carl Anderson's place since he died a few years ago. I am really hoping it's a black man again. Carl Anderson's performances have spoiled me.
|
PeggySeldon
|
Wait, the show takes place in 1975. That's not pre-civil rights. And I loved Deidre's portrayal of Sheila. She's one of few characters that does not specify her race or ethnicity.
|
Jman383
|
| PeggySeldon wrote: | | Wait, the show takes place in 1975. That's not pre-civil rights. And I loved Deidre's portrayal of Sheila. She's one of few characters that does not specify her race or ethnicity. |
Um... Sheila is at least 30... therefore, 1975 minus 30 years is 1945. That's pre-Civil Rights.
|
PeggySeldon
|
Oh! I only skimmed your post and didn't read all the stuff you meant about her parents. Sorry about that, and you have a very valid point.
|
audreydarling
|
her dad could have been white and her mom black. that would make sense. she could be mixed race.
|
Jman383
|
Definitely, but the one in the revival was way too dark to be mixed. But yes, I agree.
|
Quique
|
Where in the stage version does she say her father was wealthy?
|
Jman383
|
In "At the Ballet".
"Daddy always said that he married beneath him, that's what he said, that's what he said."
Back in those days, "beneath him" would have definitely referred to money matters, unless I'm crazy. And my guess is that her mom wasn't completely poor, otherwise, how would they have even met? My thinking is that he was a wealthy, older gentlemen who married her mom for her looks more than anything, and guilted her into it (said he was her last chance). Then, when she became older and less attracted, he moved onto younger women and cheated on her. But that's just my thoughts.
|
Quique
|
It's merely implied, not outright stated. And it could be interpreted to mean various other things. Maybe he thought he was too good for her. Maybe he was a male chauvinist pig with an over inflated sense of worth.
And to think there were absolutely no well established blacks during that era is a bit naive, imo. Are you saying there wasn't one well-off black male anywhere in the U.S. at the time? Even if there were just a handful, why is it so far fetched that Sheila's father might've been one of those few?
Personally, I had no problem with the character being black. I had more of a problem with the actress they chose for the role. Her singing was good, her dancing great, but she was a bit on the masculine side. She was all buff n' shit, lol. I like my Sheilas feminine, hiding behind their sensuality to cover up their vulnerability. Diedre came off too abrasive and her monologue was too rushed.
|
Jman383
|
| Quique wrote: | It's merely implied, not outright stated. And it could be interpreted to mean various other things. Maybe he thought he was too good for her. Maybe he was a male chauvinist pig with an over inflated sense of worth.
And to think there were absolutely no well established blacks during that era is a bit naive, imo. Are you saying there wasn't one well-off black male anywhere in the U.S. at the time? Even if there were just a handful, why is it so far fetched that Sheila's father might've been one of those few?
Personally, I had no problem with the character being black. I had more of a problem with the actress they chose for the role. Her singing was good, her dancing great, but she was a bit on the masculine side. She was all buff n' shit, lol. I like my Sheilas feminine, hiding behind their sensuality to cover up their vulnerability. Diedre came off too abrasive and her monologue was too rushed. |
No, I never ever said there were absolutely none, it was just very, very unlikely, especially given the time period. Also, I'm guessing her family MUST have had some money, because how else could they have afforded to frequent the ballet? Granted, she didn't have to be rich for this, but she definitely couldn't have been poor.
As for Deidre, I never saw her, so I can't say, I only have the cd. My guess about her build is that they wanted her to be very physically intimidating, giving more of a reason for the attitude. Just my thought though.
|
Vikefantam
|
| jarrod001 wrote: | | It didn't make it as funny when Richie announced he was black... |
"Oh, and I'm black." Now that line was classic.
|
Vikefantam
|
Also, WRT to being racist, I don't think you're being racist. We've been watching and/or listening to these shows for years. I'd be baffled seeing a black Sheila as much as I'd be baffled seeing a white Richie or a white Judas from JCS. Maybe I'm just getting old and set in my ways.  0
|
hereineden
|
i don tmind her being black... i didnt like her for the part for other reasons...
but it does seem a tad odd that her father could have been so high and mighty.. i guess its different when your in the arts, thats true..
it deff took away from richie though... thats a fact.
and everyone knows that sheila and zack are sleeping together. so reguardless of her skin color, she could have made it far for that reason..
(thats for the people who say "a black woman wouldnt have made it that far!!")
|
Jman383
|
| hereineden wrote: | | and everyone knows that sheila and zack are sleeping together. |
That's interesting. I've never heard and/or thought of this before. Doesn't Sheila have a husband and kids she talks about? I mean, I know that doesn't mean she can't be cheating, but since she saw the damage it did to her own mother when her father cheated, why would she repeat the cycle?
|
hereineden
|
no.. she never talks about having kids.. don is the only one who says anything about having children.
(and ironically, in the first draft of the script, sheila and don are sleeping together as well.  )
|
hollygram
|
It really shouldn't matter at all except Richie and Connie sing about how hard it is to be black and asian. If Sheila is black it's like, why didn't she get a song about being an african american? I didn't see the revival on broadway so I can't say anything about Deirdres performance.
|
V0CA1
|
WhiteI hope no one finds it racist that I choose the white version but it is because of Richie comes ringht out and says "Im black" which was much better when hes the only one. I did see the Revival which is the only version Ive ever seen, but she was white. I didn't know that she was suppose to be black until I saw the Revival Posters. "understudy" maybe? I thought she was really good at being Shelia! *off topic* Val was AMAZING I immedialty loved her! and Dance Ten Looks Three!
|
