Men have routinely taken women’s roles in Shakespeare, often justified on the grounds of ‘authenticity’ – the theatrical equivalent of period orchestras using ‘original instruments’. There is also, to revert to my first twins, gender neutrality. But could it cut both ways? Would a white man be cast to play Martin Luther King? This, of course, may justified as a proper revolt over the dubious practice of ‘blacking up’ in the theatre, perhaps most famously and commonly for Othello. They may be twins, but they sure aren’t interchangeable.īlind casting is growing in popularity, but it only goes so far – as far as I know all black casts are still the norm for A Raisin In the Sun or Porgy and Bess. There has been a welcome rise in ‘blind casting’ in plays though, on occasion, it may seem a little taxing on the suspension of disbelief – can people really imagine that those on stage actually mistake identical twins when one is male and the other female? Or one black and the other white? Basic biology would suggest that neither is possible. They're inclined toward the romantic and often cling to high-minded ideals about the practice of art and the appreciation of beauty.Love is blind, so we are told, but are theatregoers? The answer would seem to be yes and no, or dependent on who wants to do what. Successful entertainers have to be able to capture and hold an audience's attention, so they tend to have flamboyant or forceful personalities. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure.
At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. You can always find a place to perform, usually in an inn or tavern but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble's court. Choose one to three routines or roll on the table below to define your expertise as an entertainer. Features Entertainer RoutinesĪ good entertainer is versatile, spicing up every performance with a variety of different routines. You can replace the musical instrument in your equipment package with an inexpensive but unusual weapon, such as a trident or net. Using your By Popular Demand feature, you can find a place to perform in any place that features combat for entertainment-perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret pit fighting club. This kind of flashy combat is your entertainer routine, though you might also have some skills as a tumbler or actor.
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, one type of musical instrumentĮquipment: A musical instrument (one of your choice), the favor of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket), a costume Value:5gp Weight:4lbs, and a pouch Value:5sp Weight:1lb containing 15gp Variants GladiatorĪ gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can enjoy. Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance Whatever techniques you use, your art is your life.
Your dance steps captivate, your humor cuts to the quick. Your music raises their spirits or captures their sorrow.
Your poetics can stir the hearts of those who hear you, awakening grief or joy, laughter or anger.
You know how to entrance them, entertain them, and even inspire them.