Color-blind Casting

One example of color-blind casting that did not work well was the National Theater's production of Frankenstein. Victor's father, Alphonse was played by an African actor with a strong accent. For me, it was very difficult to believe in the relationship. Now, this may have had more to do with the acting and the strong accent then race. 

The RSC's production of Romeo and Juliet from 2010 is an example of color-blind casting that at least in my mind, worked very well. I don't have anything specific to say about this production, other than the fact that the actors all seemed to be existing in the same world. 

This idea of knowing the "world of the play," is in my mind very important. I didn't believe in the relationship between Victor and Alphonse because the two actors seemed to be in different worlds. Again, this may have been due to the strong African accent of Alphonse. The African actor who played Romeo for the RSC, however, was totally in the world of that play. As was the African actor who played Tybalt.