What a smack in the face of the Transvestite community choosing a women to play a arguably the most well known transvestite in movie history. If you got no balls you need stay the F away from playing Frankinfuter. Why not Taye Diggs? Shame on you Tim Curry for being anywhere near this.
Transvestite is an antiquated umbrella term that encompassed many groups of gender non conforming people, including drag queens, cross dressers, genderqueer and yes, transgender people. Many famous trans activists, like Sylvia Rivera, were thought of as Transvestites.
Back in the 70's, Laverne would have been thought of as a "Transvestite" even if we have a more holistic understanding of gender now. I'm not sure if I 100% agree with the casting, but casting a trans actor in such an iconic leading role is far from "Gutless".
_____________________________ "If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk" -Lewis Carroll
That's the case now, but historically, it's not true. The term "Transgender" was first coined in the 50's, but didn't come into popular use until the 90's. Back then "Transvestite" was very much used as an umbrella term. _____________________________ "If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk" -Lewis Carroll
"I think that it is a project that is misconceived and (sadly for the players) badly cast. The producer and director seem to have missed the point entirely. I will say no more as I may be tempted to say too much."
That's the case now, but historically, it's not true. The term "Transgender" was first coined in the 50's, but didn't come into popular use until the 90's. Back then "Transvestite" was very much used as an umbrella term.
Nowadays, it's the other way around, with "Transgender" being more of an umbrella term. _____________________________ "If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk" -Lewis Carroll
That's funny? I was around in the 70's and we had no problem differentiating between transvestite and transgender. Cox is just a poor casting choice. Trying to rationalize it doesn't change that.
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
The transvestite community? WHAT transvestite "community"?
I don't think you could have missed the POV of the actual author and creator of this play more than you have.
He (I use the term loosely, he self-identifies as 70% male) also, wrote the screenplay that you are now critiquing.
Here are his words, "“I wish we would see ourselves as members of a sentient race of beings and be nice to each other as human beings as opposed to male or female.”
You are pissing, with a limp dick and atrophied testicles upon the spirit of the play. Franknfurter was a sweet transvestite, from TRANSEXUAL, Transylvania.
If you want a poster child for transvestite identity, watch Glen or Glenda by Ed Wood
Okay in that case switch the lyric "I'm just a sweet transexual from transvestite Transylvania", and leak some hints as to why the character was changed from a predatory bisexual male transvestite (something so truly alien and frightening to mainstream America, even in 2016, that there is indeed no "community") to a fully realized female transexual which is now considered safe and accepted by most.
Of course it castrates the character, in every way, but at least it's something other than a complete muddle.
I agree. Tim Curry was transvestite, but also rock glam. Laverne is a woman. That's makes her NOT the right choice and makes the part boring. If I was Laverne, I would be insulted that they chose me, considering her status as a woman now.
The statement below is false. The statement above is true.
Yeah seeing as rocky horror movie was in the 70s, glam rock was huge and the look of guys dressing like women was big. David Bowie, new York dolls, etc. Got the inspiration from glam
She looks like she is trying too hard to fill tim Curry's shoes. It should be easier to try and fill the shoes if they chose someone who could actually do it with justice. Not even a fan of rocky horror but it's just disrespectful to a cult film and to tim curry. This girl doing the role sounds like a total man when she sings the roles. She isn't sexy if that's what they are going for. The commericals for this crap makes me cringe. Garbage
Watching it right now and I don't get why Cox isn't dressed up in men's clothing. Only then would she be a sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania. I'm not enthralled.
I don't think FOX knows the difference between a transvestite and someone who is transgendered. Frank was the former and how dare they get rid of that iconic look of his! As much as I love Laverne, she is no Frank-N-Furter and she's not doing a great job.
Actually I think Fox knew exactly what it was doing, and felt the need to remove the prevelant homosexuality from the show. As darogr noted, Frank's no longer a gay man looking for hookups anywhere possible, regardless of gender but clearly preferring men. It also changes Rocky from a buff gay sex robot to a buff hetero sex robot. That neuters the entire intent of the show, making it less threatening to homophobes and eliminating Richard O'Brien's amazing and uniqe attempt to deal with his sexuality.
Having attended countless Midnight screenings in the late 70s, moving the location to an old theater was painfully off base. It removed a crucial horror movie element from the story while adding nothing to recreate the fun of interacting with the dialogue gaps you could drive a truck through. Sorry that experience has faded away for today's younger generation.