NotaPushyMum.Com

http://www.lesmis.com/node/399

Alexia Khadime will be the new Eponine but does this mean they will start casting new little Eponines? or will they stay white?

It would be good to have black ones as there arent many roles for black/mixed girls in musicals (other than LK).

Anyways, does anyone know if they will match up the kids now.

Does young Eponine do very much? Thought it was a walk on walk off role for child, and that they understudy Cosette which I don't think will happen if black/mixed race child is required for role. Shame. Let's see what happens. I do'tremeberthe whole les mis plot so could be entirely mixed up/
Alexia Khadime is just fantastic though.

don't remember...!

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Personally I think high it's time they went for colour blind casting

They managed it for Billy Elliot - with a white dad. You forget a performer's colour within minutes of the performance starting.

I think there are way too few non white faces on stage and TV in this country compared with the States. Aren't we over 10% non white population in the UK now?

My dd and ds mixed race. It really annoys me that there are so few West End shows with non white child performers that they can go to see! At least Oliver had a good mix, then we have seen a non white Billy, and Lion King. Hairspray was good as well. Haven't seen Thriller yet....are there any others? We have seen Chitty, SOM and Mary Poppins but I feel that there are way too many Traditional olde englishe musicals in this country. Whats the new Cameron one - Betty Blue Eyes? - yet again set in the good old (white) english "Olde Days"

BTW we saw Rosalind James playing Eponine on the 25th anniversary tour but they still had a white Young Eponine.

Colour-blind casting does work. but then why cant the kids be different races (if you get what I mean). Why colour blind cast lead roles but not everyone?

IMO I was kinda suprised they never colour blind casted olivers role (i know they did for dodger etc).

But anyway, I think mixed kids could do this role fine (white or black adults). there was a white Young Nala that grew up black but with makeup it doesnt matter so in les mis people probs wouldnt even notice a mixed cosette turning white.

jomist wrote:Hecouldshine, I applaud you ..

Thank you jomist <sidles out from the behind the curtains to take a bow> I have a naturally big mouth!

ziggy wrote: IMO I was kinda suprised they never colour blind casted olivers role (i know they did for dodger etc).

But anyway, I think mixed kids could do this role fine (white or black adults). there was a white Young Nala that grew up black but with makeup it doesnt matter so in les mis people probs wouldnt even notice a mixed cosette turning white.

Ziggy they had some non white boys on the BBC's "I'd Do Anything" search for Nancy and 3 Olivers. The shame of it is that I suspect a lot of the non white boys never even applied to the program as they felt they wouldn't be considered. I did vaguely think about ds auditioning but didn't know the format the show would be in, and whether the boys would be exposed to voting, and I didn't want to see ignorant debates on forums about colour blind casting in relation to my ds. I remember some critical comments on one forum about the colour blind casting in Billy Elliot. Also the non white participants have a real struggle to get the votes in those BBC musical shows. I think the BBC is trying but I think the voting public on these programs has innate racism, and again I suspect talented potential participants don't even audition for fear of being exposed to that. I think the West End needs the directors/producers to make conscious decisions to put on shows that are multi racial, or at least carry out colour blind casting for their shows...

are yours too old for South Pacific hecouldshine

Thanks IOS. I had forgotten South Pacific. I suppose the children who sing Dites Moi are actually supposed to be mixed race!

Ds voice is breaking so not sure he could sing Dites Moi for much longer even if a chance came up, and dd now also over 5ft despite being only 10 (she's a giant!) so don't think they could do it in a professional production

islandofsodor wrote:are yours too old for South Pacific hecouldshine

Mind you, I wouldn't mind knowing whether they have cast the children for the Barbican production yet - heard it might be touring to Manchester??

am at work at the moment but will PM you later. its not open

Thanks IOS. Have replied.

Bumped to post this link http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstor ... ctors-head

This confirms what we have been saying on here

hecouldshine..thanks for article- interesting stuff.
Things will change with time...eventually but maybe not for our dc.