A Black Judas Again?

[GreyBeeplus3]

Have just seen on TV that there's a new stage or coming soon version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" with someone called Sam Ryder playing the main role
And of course Judas Iscariot is played by a black man I'm sorry I never caught his name so profusely apologise
Once again dark equals negative doesn't it?
Would once like to see a blue-eyed pratically blonde person in that role
I'm not sure but in the 70s film wasn't Judas black then too?
Subliminal Thinking Anyone?
Talk about reinforcing a stereotype.......

This isn't a new version it has been at the Palladium since June. The black Judas was by far the best performer and arguably in the main role in the production so that is the positive I choose to take.

So you missed the white red haired Tim Minchin in the role. Tbph with you Judas is a very vocally demanding role and maybe black men just naturally happen to have the range, talent and ability to perform it. My favourite Judas was Carl Anderson from the 1973 film, and yes, he is black but he is an amazing singer.

@Spirallingdownwards
Respecting your opinion on this matter

@ToadRage
Fair enough, but I only ever get to hear news about the black actors/singers who take the role myself

I think it's tradition he's played by a black man, and it is a great role (more interesting imo than Jesus) but I do agree with you. It seems disappointing that the only role that's typically cast like this is an infamous villain, even if in the show Judas is treated more sympathetically than typically.

I did see it at the Palladium in the summer, and I thought Tyrone Huntley was excellent.

It's interrupted you chose to write a post about something you know so little about. New production, someone called Sam Ryder, a man whose name I didn't catch, I'm not sure about the film casting.....

As above Tyrone Huntley is PHENOMENAL in the role, one he has won an Olivier for previously. He's clearly the best person for the job, clearly loves the role, to not cast him for the most interesting and challenging role in the show because he's black would be doing everyone a disservice.

@PinkArt
Well that's @GreyBeeplus3 told (you'd like to think)
Reading your comment the tone
Reminded me of a snidey white woman trying to put a black one in her place
Is all I'm going to say and
Im entitled to my opinion even if you don't agree with it you know

He is incredible. The whole thing is from his point of view, and he plays Judas so sensitively that none thinks he's the ' baddie'. The story is atheistic, in that Judas thinks Jesus is a man who has gone rogue talking about being the son of God when he felt they are preaching nontraditional ideas about helping the poor. He turns Jesus in to protect the mission and feels tricked when he finds it's a death sentence. It's a phenomenal part with some very difficult and powerful singing. Tyrone Huntley is the star of the show.

Ok? 🤷🏻‍♀️ You're talking about a show you seem to know nothing about, which I commented on because I saw it, and the casting you took issue with, recently.
Obviously we are all entitled to our own opinions, but yours seemed to be based on very little actual knowledge about the subject.

@PinkArt
What I know about the subject is that having Judas played by a black person I feel reinforces the subconscious idea that black people aren't to be liked/trusted
I KNOW white actors have taken the role and it'd be seen as that one person on their own acting independently
But with a black person it always becomes a case of then representing every other black out there especially when its a negative scenario
You saw/commented on the show saying how good the part was played but if the actors colour didn't register with you I'd be suprised as most would tie it in as to why he did what he did
And as we always get a bad press with crude assumptions always made
I feel I have the right to say
Okay??

Judas is traditionally depicted as red-haired, to the point that red hair used to be called ‘Judas-coloured’ — probably, logically, so that he stood out from the other apostles in crowd scenes as the baddie, but in practice it intersected with medieval antisemitism, and contributed to the othering of redhaired people.

That's pretty dumb considering they were all Jewish, including Jesus and the Last Supper was a Passover meal. I suppose racist have been stupid for a long time!

@TuxedoPark
Now there's an answer I was not expecting
With a history lesson and all thrown in

@TuxedoPark
And I never realised us black folk were discriminated against in the same way that red haired folk have always been since medieval antisemitism times. Fancy

The best version I saw (only online sadly) was Cynthia Erivo as Jesus and Adam lambert as Judas. I wish they’d tour that version

You’re misunderstanding me, @GreyBeeplus3 — I was saying that if, as you suggest, there’s now a tradition of casting a Black Judas, there was formerly a long tradition of ‘othering’ him in a different way in painting/religious iconography.

I am a massive fan of JCS. This ridiculous argument was had in the 1970s when the phenomenal Carl Anderson starred in the film version (not the original stage version).
You realise that The show is primarily about Judas. He’s the main character.
I’ve seen this adaptation six times now and Tyrone Huntley in three of them. He is wonderful. The best man for the job. Bore off with the race stuff. Imagine if we’d missed Carl and Tyrone in this role because someone was worried about what colour they are.
Interestingly Tyrone himself said he was surprised to be offered the role as he is a very short man and Judas is so powerful on stage. Thank goodness people can just judge a performance over any physical traits.