Blacking Up Hairspray

Hi Anonymous, I haven't seen SLAMS' Hairspray, but I must say I agree with your thinking. It doesn't matter what they use - be it black paint, make-up, shoe polish, dark tan, or whatever... from what you have said, it seems they have blatantly gone against what they have said in the program, which is not only breaking the rules (from what I know, blackface is a definite no-no for any production of Hairspray), but is downright hypocritical.

I'd be interested in hearing what anyone who represents SLAMS and/or is involved in Hairspray has to say about this?

• 41 votes

If a girl was walking down the street covered in fake tan, would you be offended?
I know i would be.

• -27 votes

I seem to remember Whitehorse's Aida doing even worse and yet this banter was seemingly absent....

...and i'm sorry if you find fake tan offensive please stop watching TV, movies and just AVOID life in general....In general theatre life Bronser is an essential part of the make up case i don't know ANYONE who hasn't got it in their make up case...

The cast were instructed to NOT get a spray tan for this exact reason of not wanting to offend and cause offense!!!!

The cast is also made up of a number of models and people who work in high-end fashion and it means their livelihood is based on their appearance and the image they promote to the fashion industry (ie. what they look like PROFESSIONALLY)...Again just avoid the fashion and retail market and you'll be fine and live in your little cocoons of misanthropy!

P.S...if you looked a little closer you would have also noticed some of the corney council were looking mighty bronzed as well.....

• -41 votes

Why is it that we strive to be offended by white skin turning darker? The answer is we are not. We are, however, conditioned to look out for specific things which modern politically correct society finds "offensive". In this case, light brown pigments of skin turned artificially slightly darker.
I ask the readers this; this is a webpage dedicated to theatre and musicals, so what exactly should we be offended by?

*A western actor imitating asians (Eg, Hot Mikado, Thoroughly Modern Millie)
*Adults imitating children (13)
*People imitating Nazi's (Sound of Music, Cabaret)
*Christians imitating Jews (Parade, Fiddler)
*Gays imitating Straight people (pretty much every show I’ve been in)
*Straight people imitating gays (Rent)
*Humans imitating animals (Bat Boy, Charlie Brown, Swan Lake)
*Any actor/singer/dancer who wears make-up, costume, dons accents or even acts any different to their own age, religion, socio-ecomomic background, gender, sexual orientation and of course, race.

Where's the grey line and how do you draw it? Look, my point is that Leighton, or any cast member for Hairspray, certainly had no intention to racially vilify, demean or insult anyone. Nor does the vast majority of people who stomp the boards. I know the rules for Hairspray are there to stop people going over board, but I think considering the script calls for “Negros” SLAMS production was done tastefully and with respect.

• -31 votes

It was appalling and I totally agree with anonymous. Why didn’t SLAMS approach any of the many African cultural or performing groups to get their involvement? It was just horrendous watching Hairspray with all those cringe worthy “tanned-faced” performers. Hairspray may be set in the 60s, but last time I checked it was 2012. Australia is a multicultural society so I find it very hard to believe that there is no interest from the African/Australian community to perform – especially because dance and song is such an integral part of African culture. I think that community theatre really needs to get out of this Anglo-centric mindset!

http://www.greaterdandenongweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/communi...

• 30 votes

I don't think the issue is so much with the fact that they were tanned. Although hairspray executive types have asked for it to not happen- theatre is full of fake tanning. I myself tan for nearly every show. I think the offense came from two places- one being the extent of the tanning and the other being that the program explicitly stated the complete opposite to reality. If the cast are going to tan or bronze, which is totally normal for theatre, don't claim that they are not.

This issue is not about to 'what extent' costumes come(be it race, or as said above, gender, sexual orientation or any other). It is rather about the incongruity of the written word to the visual given onstage. If you're expecting one thing and you've reconciled yourself to 'using you imagination', it does come as a shock to have the complete opposite occur.

• -19 votes

Has anyone even considered the fact that some of the funk kids are actually darker skinned?? I think it's appalling that people are generalizing. If you actually took the time to meet the cast after the show you would notice that for some that skin colour is actually natural.

• -38 votes

I guess the point being made was, wre they fake tanning to "black up" or were they tanning for other aspects of their life. With regard to asking the African community, I'm pretty sure auditions are open to anyone who knows where to find the, should a production company discriminate against the talented people who turned up because their skin colour was wrong??

• -37 votes

I think what SLAMS did in their program was a brilliant idea. Explain it, get the obvious out of the way (This cast is white) and carry on. The fault is then going ahead and trying to black up performers anyway. 

I saw a brilliant production of Parade years ago that did a brilliant job of explaining in it's program about the cultural divides in the show and that although the cast were clearly not of that descent, the exposition in the program was more than enough to make that clear without then needing to take the extra step of tanning half the cast.

The 'offensive' part often derives when the performers are so tanned that it looks ridiculous. This is suprisingly not hard to do, which is where that fine line comes in. If it's obviously not just a 'show tan' (as mentioned above), then you've got to be super careful about stating thinks like 'this cast is not blacked up' in your program.

• -18 votes

Anonymous, its interesting that you expect all Africans/australians to be black... And also post a link to greater dandenong.
I'm African... I'm not black enough to play a 'funk kid' and I don't live in dandenong....
I'm offended.

• -25 votes

SLAMS did NOT place the notice in the program because they did not have enough/any darker skinned individuals in the show... They did it because it was a notice that is given to amateur companies to put in the program. You will notice it is NOT in the professional program. This is because a professional company is NOT allowed to do the show unless they have dark skinned people playing the "black characters" where as amateur companies are not given such restrictions because realistically it would be a lot harder for them to cast accordingly.

I would also like to add to all the "Anonymous" people posting this stuff. If you were genuinely offended then why are you hiding? I genuinely feel that you are just trying to stir the pot and cause trouble for what ever reason.
Own up to what you say don't hide!

• -29 votes

I'm confused... why do people find it offensive that the cast would 'blacked' themselves up for the role? They are not portraying any of the characters in a negative light. Surely altering ones appearance for a show is just part of costuming. Can someone please explain to me why they find this offensive.

• -26 votes

It's absolutely ridiculous to be 'offended' by such.. Tanning for stage is normal and ANY funk kid that got a spray tan got the same as any of the council members.. a normal tan for stage. NO FUNK kid was blackened any more than a normal shade .. and like above.. did anyone stop to think that maybe some of the funk kids WERE dark?

It was advertised time and time again that SLAMS wanted more dark people to audition and put the word out, but no one did .. so as a company putting on a show about racism, could they really be racist towards caucasians for not being black? No. It was represented through clothing, hair colour, movement and stage mechanisms..

Get the hell over yourselves. This is COMMUNITY THEATRE.. a place where we support each other in doing what we love for the fun of it. Stop being petty and get a life.

• -39 votes

While I agree that a lot of actors commonly use spray tan for any show, there are some members of the SLAMS cast who have gone a lot darker than normal because they are playing a "funk" role. It's a shame, but it's a fact.

Also, having looked on the Hal Leonard website, there is a letter provided by the creators of the show to be included in the program "If your production of Hairspray features actors who are portraying characters whose race may be other than their own". Having not read the actual letter in the program, I'm assuming that this is the letter people have been referring to.

• -4 votes

Whether or not the cast is 'blacked up' is not the point... the point is, if it clearly states in the program that this won't be happening, especially since it goes against the licensing agreement, then it becomes a double standard. Who else sees what's wrong with that?

• 22 votes

'Hairspray' is a musical. Musicals are for entertainment. Stop criticizing and just be entertained. Move on people, there are worse things happening in the world right now.

• -23 votes

Even the idea of going ahead with the Haispray production(s) without enough Africans auditioning is ridiculous. Pardon me to be blunt, however I simply think the Melbourne Musical Theatre talent pool is too racist itself and not at all ready to do such a show. End of story.

• 27 votes

I have already contacted MTI and Hall Leonard in regards to the alleged breach of the License Agreement.

• 17 votes

The people who claim that this is offensive are right. Frankly, I'm offended every time I see Phantom of the Opera/LND. The show is about a man who is ostracized because of his mutated face. Using a non-facially mutated actor (in almost every production) and giving him make up to look mutilated is unacceptable in 2012. *End sarcasm*.

• -22 votes

Wow. It's a sad sad day when we can no longer see the humour in comments (in regard to offence of bronzer walking down the street). It's also a sad sad day that I know I can't really tell Anonforjustice and tellerofferofidiots what I really think cause it may be 'offensive' to someone on the board. It's amateur theatre people!!!! Seriously.

Vote me down. I dare you!

• -31 votes

This thread makes me laugh. I wonder which role "Anonforjustice" auditioned for and got turned down?

• -14 votes

woaaahhh baaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! oh golly!

• -11 votes

Hahahahahaha Candy it also makes me laugh how ridiculous some of these comments have become.

It is such a shame people can't appreciate a show for all the hard work that has been put in, purely for audience enjoyment.

• -19 votes

Saw this show last week and let's be honest I've gotten similar shades of tans as the 'funk kids' did when playing a Caucasian person.

Was wondering if these people who are offended have the same issue when Caucasian people play the Asian characters in Miss Saigon or The King and I?

It will be interesting to see if this conversation opens up again when other amateur companies perform Hairspray or if we can move on and just enjoy the show!

• -11 votes

There is nothing more offensive than a white person being offended about black portrayal! Apologies if you are actually dark skinned, but looking at this, it's a conversation by a whole lot of indignant white people. Get over yourselves and find something you have a right to complain about!

• -19 votes