Is a female playing the role of Jesus blasphemous?

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

Register Log in
It seems, appears, that the entire thing (a' tout) may go down due to imbalance!

Humanity has blown it due to extreme impersonality disorder! Nothing personal ... what dahf OHC do mortals know?

Naught aulph 've ite ...
 
OMG thanks @Delightful Life for the Cynthia/Jimmy clip! Amazing!!

@Jae - sorry you've avoided watching Wicked. It's got a great story line of appreciating differences, friendship, personal identity and more. It's probably not what you might be imagining.

@Jayne - re your original question - Blasphemous? Certainly not to me.
 
Not so much blasphemous as idiotically tone deaf to the thrilling truth that even in an overwhelmingly patriarchal culture men like Jesus and Paul can celebrate female equality.
 
Mystic said:
Not so much blasphemous as idiotically tone deaf to the thrilling truth that even in an overwhelmingly patriarchal culture men like Jesus and Paul can celebrate female equality.
Click to expand...
Honestly? Have you ever watched or listened to JC Superstar? There is not a shred of an attempt to present the show as "the Gospel" or history. It's taking the life of Jesus as a story, no different from how historical events and figures have been treated on stage for centuries. What matters is the story that the play is telling through its action and music. And so having a strong actor and singer is what matters here. They are not feminizing Jesus the Christ, they are casting an actor as the character Jesus in their drama. And Cynthia Erivo is a great choice from that standpoint, with a raft of acclaim and awards as both an actor and a singer.

If you don't like that approach, fine. Some see Jesus as more than a figure in a story and I am guessing you fit that description. But that's art and creativity in action. Some of us are looking forward to it.
 
Superstar is my totally fav ALW production. My favourite version thus far is the U.K. Arena Tour version released in 2012. Looking forward to this one.

(I'm probably the only one here who would like to hear Chess reproduced though...)
 
BetteTheRed said:
Superstar is my totally fav ALW production.
Click to expand...
Likewise, with Phantom as a close second.

And, yes, a female Phantom would be interesting, too. Though then you also have the question of whether to genderflip Christine as well (who is really the central character given the part was originally written for Sarah Brightman when she was Mrs. Lloyd-Webber). And what happens to Raoul if you do? So interesting, but also potentially complicated.
 
Pavlos Maros said:
Jesus Christ Superstar is already a creative, non-traditional take on the story, so casting a woman as jesus fits that spirit. The core of the story, whether in the bible or the musical, is about love, sacrifice, and challenging oppressive systems. If the message transcends time, culture, and gender, then why not the portrayal?

People have been reinterpreting jesus for centuries. There are depictions of jesus as black, indigenous, and even gender fluid in different artistic traditions. This casting choice just continues that legacy. If the performance captures the essence of the story, why would it matter who plays the role?

Anyway you won't notice the difference when she's in a full beard and wig. Lol. (Just had to add a little humour to the thread) She would have to remove the bull ring though. That would give it away
Click to expand...
There have been people squawking about blasphemy over many things. I recall a storm in a teacup about the BBC radio play The Man Born To Be King. Church Pillars went crazy over a mere human acting as Jesus. The play was later published as a book - I won a copy as a prize from school. in 1960.
 
The Moderators have received a report concerning insulting language used by several posters. We would ask (politely) that posters would refrain from insults directed at one another, and keep civil discourse continuing. Thank you for policing your words.
 
Carolla said:
OMG thanks @Delightful Life for the Cynthia/Jimmy clip! Amazing!!

@Jae - sorry you've avoided watching Wicked. It's got a great story line of appreciating differences, friendship, personal identity and more. It's probably not what you might be imagining.

@Jayne - re your original question - Blasphemous? Certainly not to me.
Click to expand...
Hi Carolla, I've continued the discussion of "Wicked" in the Movies thread
 
Oh and Jesus Christ Superstar was my gateway to musicals :3

We had the album :3

Heady days

Lots of good, fun music there. I can't define how they are good and fun, but I think they fill the same role as some literature I enjoy, like Lord of the Rings, or The Sandman comics...

Deeply, creatively, wonderfully human without needing to have a Message or Right Politics lol
 
BetteTheRed said:
I have the same philosophy in my family about political discussions. If you don't vote, keep your mouth shut. A vote is an action. An opinion is like an a**hole - everyone has one.
Click to expand...
Except that, again, in this case we were briefly discussing why I'd avoided seeing it ;)
 
BetteTheRed said:
I have the same philosophy in my family about political discussions. If you don't vote, keep your mouth shut. A vote is an action. An opinion is like an a**hole - everyone has one.
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you don't know what the movie/book is about then it's just a baseless opinion.
 
Ethel Merman said:
we would sing JC Superstar for fun during free play at elementary :3

well, our version of it ;3
Click to expand...

i think the lines went

"Jesus Christ, Superstar, who in the hell do you think you are?
When I die, bury me, hang my balls from a cherry tree
When they're ripe, take a bite, and don't blame me if they don't taste right
Just throw 'em at that Gaddam tree"

music was a deep part of our school
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top