SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Help the Spehor with uncomfortable decision...

Joined: Sep 22 2008 Posts: 289

So, I auditioned for a number of one act plays this week. Went well, and got called back today for one of them, What She Saw There.

It stars two characters, Lou and Celia. Lou is a trucker, while Celia is a counterpart to Alice from Alice in Wonderland. When Alice went through the mirror into Wonderland, Celia came into our world. The play opens directly after Lou and Celia have had sex. I was obviously called back for the role of Lou.

The Problem: Celia has the body of a thirteen year old girl, making Lou a big, fat pedophile. I don't know if I'm comfortable with that. At all. From the readings we had to work with, it seems like this is barely even given a second thought. If Lou were portrayed as a villain and was meant to be hated, I would have no qualms about playing him, but he's not. The story pretty much just ends with the two characters falling in love.

Some of you know that some sick ass shit happened in my hometown fairly recently, and I just am not sure how comfortable I am portraying this character. At the same time, I understand that it's just a play, it's all fiction, so I'm unsure if turning down the role would be a smart thing to do. Nothing's set in stone, and I may not even be cast for the part. Just wondering what you guys thought of this. Anyone ever been in an uncomfortable situation like this?

(College theatre is fucking weird, man.)

Posted: Apr 09 2009 12:39 am

You obviously shouldn't put yourself into an role that would clearly cause you discomfort. Sure, there's always "challenging yourself", but there comes a point where you just have to say, "no way."

On the contrary, though, it's simply fiction.

Posted: Apr 09 2009 12:42 am

Well, from someone who wanted to be an actor for a hella long time before I made a wrong turn at Broadway and ended up at Fort Leonard-Wood...

If acting is something you want to seriously pursue, don't turn this down. Use the issues you have with the character as a way of getting deeper into his psyche. (And DO be prepared for audience reaction to be not all nice.)

If this is not an issue, then yeah, turn it down. But don't do so lightly, and not just because the character makes you queasy. This could be a great opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Joined: Sep 22 2008 Posts: 289

I suppose it all depends on your definition of "serious about acting". I am not planning on making a career out of it, but it is something I enjoy and do take very seriously.

As I said, I would have no issues were this a dark and foreboding little play with Lou as a villain or at least disturbed character, but, at least from the readings we had, the play was comedic and kind of lighthearted, and the fact that it is a lighthearted piece with a pedophile as a central character is what makes me uncomfortable. I think I'm gonna ask the director (a student and friend of mine) if it would be possible to read the rest of the play. I wanna see how it treats the issue as a whole before I make any decision. If it explores the character a bit, then I think I'll take it. If it doesn't, I don't think I will.

In short, it's not so much that I'm against playing a pedophile (hell, I'm playing a cop killing thief and murderer in The Threepenny Opera at the moment), it's the levity with which the subject matter seems to be treated.

Title: Alexz Aficionado Joined: May 21 2008 Posts: 2889

I feel ya on college theater, "Closer" was shown pretty blatantly here recently in one of our small little theaters.

On one hand, I say it's all fiction, it's just a play, and outside of the stage that world doesn't exist. Unless one of yall has to been to Wonderland. I've always wanted to meet the Mad Hatter Very Happy

..uh... I digress...

On the other hand, if you don't like this role and don't agree with it, maybe you should turn it down. There will probably be other roles you can do, but college theater as whole is pretty no-holds-barred. You find out how far you can go and where you're breaking point is.

But on the other hand....

I got nothin' else right now Smile

Posted: Apr 09 2009 01:41 am

do it. I understand your logic, say if for instance, I were offered a role as a raging racist jew killer. That would be fine by me, but not if the story portrayed the character in a positive light. I say deal with it and don't turn it down for it may offer more future opportunities.

Posted: Apr 11 2009 02:19 pm

you gotta suck a lot of cock before you can bang priya rai

Posted: Apr 11 2009 10:07 pm