Dylan Mulvaney cast as Anne Boleyn

No, that's Catherine Howard - who comes to a realisation of her own abuse during her story. (She was groomed as a child by her tutor, for which she was blamed, that being the 'understanding' at the time).

The video of Dylan outside the theatre has him walking so exaggerated and infuriates me.

It's so childish isn't it. No thought beyond "We'll cast a trans, that'll show 'em!"

Not the film (didn't know there was a film), it was the stage show a few years ago

Yeah I’ve also heard this was coming for a long time (not this actor specifically but trying to find a trans actor to play one of the queens)

I’m unfortunately not surprised.

I thought panto season was over.

I saw the film. It was all women. And surely everyone but people who think they are trans are non-binary i.e. don't have gender feelz? They are just people, some immutably male, some immutably female.

Just seen a theatre critic (MickeyJo) post a very disappointing video about this on YouTube, accompanied by doubling down and misogyny from him in the comments.

He clearly has no respect for women and has completely failed to appreciate that as pp says this is a show built on women's stories.

I’m late to this thread and haven’t read it all yet but this stunt casting has given me food for thought, as I recently defended a trans actor in the role of Judy Garland in another play so am mulling over why this feels different.

Six as far as I’m aware is an ensemble piece, so to go for stunt casting and one famous name in the cast arguably shifts the vibe somewhat, never mind plonking Mulvaney at the top of the bill and as probably the most well known of the wives to boot. Wonder what atmosphere that makes for in the dressing rooms.

It’s deliberately provocative, and the fact they shut down their socials instead of dealing with the questions they surely knew people would ask is telling. You can’t build a show on the back of women’s stories and work then throw a spanner in the works like this without expecting some strong opinions.

I like musicals but never bothered with Six despite all the hype, because as pp alluded to the producers pulled out of appearing on Graham Norton’s(?) Radio 2 show (iirc) because JKR was a guest on the same day (a prerecord, not even there) and that was years ago. That’s been the measure of them from the start and it wasn’t very appealing, so this is hardly a surprise.

I think I defended Jinkx Monsoon because the Judy Garland play was a fringe-type production that depended on his involvement to exist. So there was an element of choice there. Six is already established and this is stunt casting for publicity and forces Mulvaney on the audience, like it or not.

They have politicised their show and forced their ideology on the audience, in a piece of work where being a woman is central to the whole premise. They naturally will pretend Mulvaney is as much of a woman as the rest of the cast and to think otherwise is awful bigotry. It’s gaslighting. As pp said it’s showbiz, and Mulvaney has every right to make a career for himself, but that he is happy to take this role in particular shows he knows and cares nothing about the issues at stake here.

I agree.

I quite agree - although at the time it was just seen as entertainment, in the same way womanface is now.

The B&W minstrels was as a result of the institutionalised racism that still exists today. It’s ironic that the BBC levelled accusations of schoolboy bullying and racism at Nigel Farage which allegedly took place at a time when they were broadcasting this kind of thing without a second thought. They were happy to broadcast blackface while there wasn’t a single actual non white face presenting anywhere else on the channel.

I don’t think it’s so much that we’ve gone backwards in our understanding of biology as much as we are being asked to believe that which we know not to be true.

The black and white minstrel show was just showbiz - until the penny dropped and people became more educated and aware.

But yes, tickets for this will sell, even with a male taking a part away from a woman.

Agree. It’s not a historical analysis. It’s just showbiz. Pick your battles, GCs.

Me too, I find DM really irritating. But it will sell out without our patronage.

Yes I’m sure they do, but they have the belief that TWAW so casting DM is not a contradiction.

What is the FWR board for if not railing against sexist takes, old and new? And what’s progressive about a white, privileged man taking a role over less recognised women who have had to achieve double the amount to share the same stage?

Anne Boleyn was murdered by a powerful man for failing to comply with his reproductive needs. The excuse given for murdering her was that she’d dishonoured her husband through sexual depravity. She’s a perfect example of the vulnerability of women and the brutality meted out to them throughout history.

Having a man play her on stage is rather like choosing a young while male to play Rosa Parks. It is intentionally, knowingly spitting on, ridiculing, belittling, the victims of abuse & violence. Why? Because men think violence against women is funny 🤢.

All a bit ironic, isn't it?
The Tudors knew what a bloke was. 500 years later and we've gone backwards in our understanding of biology.

This.

I mean you don't need to see it, there's plenty of other things to spend your money on.

Shows have always had sexist stuff in them. This is just a new take. Shame, i thought we were progressing.

Dylan was in a touring production of The Book of Mormon, so he must have some musical theatre skills; that was an ensemble role though, it’s quite the step up for SIX.

I am certainly angry that he is being feted for his sexism.