Racial Switch Halts 'Huck Finn' Production

Yahoo ^ | 5/22/2005 | Associated Press

[FreeManWhoCan]

GLENELG, Md. - A black Huck Finn and a white Jim might be OK for a high school production of Mark Twain's classic tale — but those performances had to be edited out of a C-Span talent show after the copyright holder objected to the cross-casting. ADVERTISEMENT

Jay Frisby, a black student who played Huck, and Nick Lehan, a white student who played Jim, taped their performance of the song "Muddy Water" for "Close Up," a weekly show that highlights high school excellence.

When the program aired Friday, the two Glenelg Country School seniors were introduced, but viewers were told that "Close Up" could not show their performance because of "copyright restrictions."

Lehan and Frisby had played the roles of Jim and Huck in the school's production of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" without complaint. But when the show's executive producer asked for the right to air the students' performance, permission was denied.

Bert Fink, a spokesman for R&H Theatricals — the Rodgers & Hammerstein organization, which holds the license to the play — said his organization is not against cross-casting in general.

"But when you're dealing with a theatrical work and race or ethnicity is a key factor, many authors or playwrights feel strongly that ethnicity has to be reflected in the actors who portray the characters," he said.

"In the books, Jim is a runaway slave. He is clearly in the novel an African-American man. And Huck is a free white man — that is central to the story. To ignore that component or to comment on it by switching is not faithful to the story."

Frisby's father, Washington attorney Russell Frisby, said he was appalled by the decision.

"The only rationale for it is that someone in New York believes Huck Finn can't be played by an African-American. I thought we were past the days of 'whites only' clauses," the elder Frisby said.

[Eeper]

What's not to agree with? Jumping on someone and calling them names for innocently mentioning the name of a character in a Twain work seems like a great idea.

I honestly didn't even think twice about it until Mike freaked out. Who knew that the name of a character in a book that most of us (I would assume) read when we were children would be so offensive to mention in a thread revolving around the casting of said character?

[GOP_Proud]

< The fact that Huck was white and Jim was black had everything to do with the story between them.

Apparently not; mentioning such is verböten.

---

No, the n-word was the wrong way to go. It's fine to discuss the story.

[GOP_Proud]

Actually it would be interesting if Huck Finn were a free black and Jim was a white slave. I trust that there probably were some white children born to slaves in the south. I also suspect that despite their pale skin color they were still registered as slaves.
I think it would make for a very interesting premise.

Actually antoher Twain story deals with a similar premise. Help me here, people. Can we remember the name?

[GOP_Proud]

< However, I am offended by the common use of "friken" these days. I find it almost as offensive as the common use of the N-Bomb these days. N-Bombs are being used all the time in casual conversation among those other then caucasians. >


Oh how I agree with you. Everyone knows what you are really saying when you use it.

[cyborg]

Take it up with Jim Robinson. You've not been around long enough to see all the racist troll eruptions on this website.

[cyborg]

pudding head

[Eeper]

That's the impression I'm getting, but I'm still frankly amazed. It's just the character's name. No animus is expressed through it; it's just the character's name. I didn't mean to offend any black freepers, or non-black freepers that think they should be offended on black peoples' behalf.

[Old North State]

What we are dealing with here is "the relationship is central to the story"....

That is precisely correct. A story about a white American run away slave in the 19th century does not make sense. Changing role races in this story is a distraction that reduces it to an absurdity.
I reread Conrad's "Nigger of the Narcissus" last night and it stuck me that it would be impossible to make a play or movie based on it because of the title.(I suppose Dave Chapelle could make a skit about it)
We are burying our own culture in political correctness.

[Old Professer]

Candles, darkness, grumbling, muttering, stubbed toes, hurt feelings...

[Eeper]

Take it up with Jim Robinson.

I was unaware your opinions, which I've taken issue with, had to be cleared through Mr. Robinson.

You've not been around long enough to see all the racist troll eruptions on this website.

This is factual. If I'm missing some sort of neo-Nazi plot that runs through FR discussions of Mark Twain, I can only plead ignorance.

[GOP_Proud]

< What's not to agree with? Jumping on someone and calling them names for innocently mentioning the name of a character in a Twain work seems like a great idea.

I honestly didn't even think twice about it until Mike freaked out. Who knew that the name of a character in a book that most of us (I would assume) read when we were children would be so offensive to mention in a thread revolving around the casting of said character? >

---

First of all, I don't think it was "innocently" mentioned. Everyone knows we just don't use it anymore unless you WANT to spark a battle.

Secondly, we all know that mentioning it would start something. None of us are innocents here. We all know the fire the word enflames whenever it is used in ANY context.

Personally, I think it's a shame that things are like that but they are. Let's just not hide behind "innocence".

[cyborg]

I didn't mean every opinion you had. You take issue your post being pulled. Ask Jim Robinson. BTW, the stormfronters are forever trying to infiltrate FR and have said so plainly more than once, getting to use the n-word in discussions where they might not be so readily detected. Personally, I don't care as nothing suprises me on FR anymore but there are rules on this site.

[zeugma]

How the heck long does it take for a copyright to expire?

These days it's life of the author plus 70 years, or 100 years depending upon whether or not the work was created by individuals or a corporation "for hire". Got to keep "Steamboat Willie" under copyright forever.

All of Twain's works are public domain now. Most of Mark Twain's works are available for free through Project Gutenberg. I would imagine the copyright issues at question have to do with the play itself, which, if it was written after 1925 or so, would still be under copyright, not the book that it is based upon.

[GOP_Proud]

< pudding head >

And we have a winner. Thank you.

[Eeper]

So I'm part of the neo-Nazi Twain plot now for mentioning the character's name? Christ, people...

[cyborg]

http://www.americanliterature.com/PW/PWD.HTML

[DuncanWaring]

Thanks fer the info.

[bannie]

An aside:

Where does one go to find out if a specific writing is in public domain?

:)

[MikefromOhio]

you're funny. I like you LOL!!!
No point; you can't even grasp that the character's race is central to the bloody story. You wring your hands about something because you think you should without any critical thought whatsoever. Grow up.

You apparently haven't read a word I have said back to you yet. So after this, I will quit wasting my time with you

Parents often dote on the child that cries the most. I noticed you reported the post once it hurt your precious, sparkly feelings of what Twain characters can and can't be discussed.

So calling him Jim means he isn't a Twain character anymore? Enlighten us idiots O Master!!!

This sentence doesn't even make sense. Perhaps you should try reading literature rather than censoring the barest mention of it.

And neither did your calling me a coward in the first place....

[MikefromOhio]

LOL