Never After: a few thoughts

[kelkyag]

Sunday I saw Never After. It's cute and bouncy. Much of the music is fun; the orchestra was excellent. It pushed at my definition of 'fairy tale' -- I think it isn't quite one, to me, but instead belongs over in whatever one calls the space Gilbert and Sullivan operettas are in

Comments

Thoughts, various

[desireearmfeldt]

It's not a fairy tale, it's a fairy tale spoof. (In my opinion

Re: Thoughts, various

[mathhobbit]

Being the sort of lesbian who likes to wear pretty dresses and, well, not embroider but knit, I appreciated Somnia. Perhaps my favorite thing about her was that she didn't bat an eye at her "Prince Charming" being female -- she was completely ready to run with it until she learned Les wasn't coping well.

I was, of course, imagining Somnia running the kingdom while her sweetie was off adventuring.

Re: Thoughts, various

[kelkyag]

she didn't bat an eye at her "Prince Charming" being female

She's a Princess -- she has poise, and lots of it.

imagining Somnia running the kingdom while her sweetie was off adventuring

If the story had given even a little nod to her competence at anything but embroidery ... I would have loved to see her step up as a mediator for the siege, for example, and thus wind up with some responsibilities.

Re: Thoughts, various

[mathhobbit]

Yes. A lot was left to your personal princess stereotype. You know the kind of books I read...

[kelkyag]

I wasn't expecting the show to tackle race at all, but the blurb did promise a revolution along with a lesbian princess.

About the race thing...

[dpolicar]

(Caveat: I was not involved in Never After, but am active in Theatre at First and fairly close friends with the director, so got to hear some of the thought processes involved.)

Yeah, the racial thing was a concern for the director during casting; she was worried about precisely this reaction.

But the actress who played the evil fairy wanted the part, and gave a rockin' audition. (And, speaking as the guy who cast her in 12 angry jurors when she was a complete unknown to us, let me say she rocks to work with.) And, well, deciding not to cast someone for a role that they want and are qualified for, simply because of their race, is... well, you see the problem

[kelkyag]

And, well, deciding not to cast someone for a role that they want and are qualified for, simply because of their race, is... well, you see the problem.

Indeed! Addressing the situation beforehand rather than when challenged would probably help, but I don't know how to do that without seeming defensive or abrasive.

Which arguably points to an opportunity -- perhaps even an obligation -- for Theatre@First to do more community outreach to different parts of the community. It's something we think about from time to time, but not really something we know how to go about doing.

The 'obligation' part of that is interesting. Where is the line between doing one's own thing however it happens to work out, and becoming ?big enough? that by existing one becomes obliged to others? Particularly with an all-volunteer organization ...

[kumir_k9]

Interesting. Good review. I like the depth and consideration of the issues. Overall, you didn't say whether you thought it was worth the time and money. Was it?

[kelkyag]

Oh, it would've been worth the time and money to go cheer for friends on stage even if the show were awful. :)

It was cute, despite my issues with it. I liked much of the music. It was certainly worthwhile as food for thought. I rarely actually speak up about this sort of thing, as I tend to put my foot in my mouth when I do, so there's something to be said for a show that pushes me to do so.

[kelkyag]

I'm kind of dismayed by the lack of depth, actually. Folks I know have serious academic interests in gender&sexuality. I'm still sitting on the edge of the pool splashing my feet in the water trying to learn enough of the vocabulary and concepts to express myself semi-coherently. Thus the rather flat laundry list of "this bugs me -- hopefully why is obvious, as I'm failing to articulate it myself".

[chenoameg]

I think the way Les interacts with the rabblerousing peasant is different than the way she interacts Hans, so to me it is the beginning of her coming out, although not to herself

[desireearmfeldt]

Lack of orchestration during non-musical numbers? Most musicals don't have that, except the occasional dance number... I suppose most movies *do* have that, but it'd be odd (and hard) on stage, I think.

[desireearmfeldt]

See... I think what set off the VMM's gaydar was "We like girly stuff (even if we also ride horses and and use swords), and we are gay; Les is butch rather than girly, therefore she must be gay." Which bugs me, in that it locks gender roles to sexual orientation in a way I don't believe.

(Alternatively, the VMM also have points in interpersonal skills/perception, in contrast to Robinson. Certainly they're clever/sensitive enough to notice she's not flirting with Robinson when he assumes she must want him because he wants her.)

[mathhobbit]

Like it or not, I think tomboys over 25 get the label "dyke". That was my guess as to what set off their gaydar.