Slim chance of common sense
TO borrow a phrase from the octogenarian singer from Pontypridd, it’s ‘Not Unusual’ for an actor’s performance in a new film to be criticised. What is unusual is for a performer to be criticised for a film that won’t be released for another six months!
But that’s exactly what happened to Emma Thompson when a trailer for her film Mathilda appeared on-line, ahead of its Christmas release.
Just to clarify, for those who thought Mathilda has been on ITV almost every weekend since it was originally released in 1996, the 2022 Emma Thompson Mathilda is based on the stage musical Mathilda, adapted from Roald Dahl’s book Mathilda.
Don’t confuse it with the upcoming Mathilda 2: Revenge Of The Trunchbull’s Sister, which features the director and star of the original 1996 film version, Danny De Vito.
Still with me?
In the 2022 film musical, Emma plays the cruel headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School, Miss Agatha Trunchbull, an intimidatingly huge character who towers over her terrified pupils.
In order to play the part, Emma donned a fat suit and prosthetics – normal procedure for actors playing characters physically different to themselves.
As soon as the trailer was released, there were howls of protest on Twitter, criticising her for taking a role which ‘should have been taken by a plus-size woman’.
I’m no expert but I can’t think of one British actor (actresses are referred to as actors these days – don’t blame me) with worldwide box-office appeal who could play the part without the help of a fat suit and false jowls.
The same people who protested at Emma’s casting didn’t complain in 2012 when the male actor Bertie Carvel was cast as Miss Trunchbull in the stage musical. Just as well as he went on to win a ton of awards for his performance in London and on Broadway.
When Christopher Lee wore false fangs to play Dracula and wore a long white wig and beard to play Saruman in the Lord of the Rings films, nobody suggested the parts should have been played by a real vampire and a real wizard.
Is that because there’s a shortage of common sense in 2022?
Please discuss . . .