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I'm still working out in my head if I can see the revival of La Cage aux Folles on Broadway. I have friends in the show, I've heard great things, I really want to see it, but I dislike the idea of supporting Kelsey Grammer in any way. I've tried, but I just can't get past the theatre community welcoming him with open arms.
It's no secret that Grammer is a Republican. In a time when our president it trying to bridge a gap between the two parties, that might not be a major deal breaker. The problem is his passion for the Republican party and the actions he takes to support them, clashing with this gay roles on Broadway. In the past he was a guest for George Bush's first inauguration, endorsed Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 presidential primary, and even campaigned for John McCain in the general election. Now, he's becoming the pitchman for the RightNetwork, a news network that prides itself on being far more right winged than Fox News. In the promo, he says, "There's wrong and there's right. RightNetwork: All that's right in the world," and "We're bringing outstanding talent...I'm proud to be a part of this team!"
One can infer that Grammer agrees with what he's saying here. He says that what is featured on the network is "right" in his eyes. OK, let's go with that. That would mean that he agrees with Newt Gingrich and other Republicans on the website who oppose gay rights and the promo material that's "pro-America, "pro-business, pro-military sensibilities." I think I am being fair in that assumption. Is it OK with the Broadway community? They seem to be willing to overlook his actions. Grammer told the Wall Street Journal that there's nothing political about playing a gay role: "My take on homosexual, heterosexual, transgender relationships, it's up to you and the person you love, and frankly I've never thought that politics and marriage mixed in any way. I'm not a big proponent of big government being in charge of weddings."
That is a great, positive, awesome thing to say to ease the minds of the LGBTQ community and make it OK to support him and the show. I'm not buying it. I don't look at Hollywood for role models, but it's not OK to actively support such a strong political agenda while making money off of an opposing situation. Seeing him onstage feels like he's making fun of his cast, like in his head he's laughing thinking, They love me! I'm such a good actor! I don't really care about any of you weird people! I'm told by an older actor on Broadway, someone a little closer to Grammer's age, that he doesn't think Grammer is making fun of people, it is his naivete, and that of the Republican party, that keeps him from seeing the big picture.
I'm not against there being a RightNetwork. It's pitched to be On-Demand so it'll be easy to avoid the anti-Obama videos (which are shown on a comedy show on the cite.) I like a challenge and a conversation. I know there are conservatives on Broadway. I also acknowledge the slippery slope that is concentrating so much on an actor's personal life when really, they are just acting. I think I wouldn't mind as much if he weren't so active in his politics and so obviously OK with gay jokes as seen on Politics and Poker, one of the shows on the network.
I don't know what the solution is. I don't think someone should be turned down for a role based on their politics/religion/etc. I personally feel like Grammer should have more respect for his cast members while he is in La Cage and at least wait until his run is over before launching a conservative network. Maybe something good will come of this. Maybe he will draw Conservatives to the show, in turn showing them how much they have in common with the homosexual relationship in La Cage. It's a love story that you would have to be stone to not feel anything for. Or maybe I need to stop expecting a Hollywood actor to be ethical because that isn't exactly in their job description. Should I suck it up and spend a good sized portion of my measly salary seeing the show because ultimately it's about live theatre and the story of La Cage Aux Folles? I don't know. I'm 25 and tend to spend money based on emotion and my emotions are saying that his RightNetwork campaign is wrong.
*Pictures via comcast.net and playbill.com*
