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As some may or may not know, one of my hobbies is amateur theatre. I've been doing this for about 14 years now, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Some of my best youth-memories were in that troop I grew up with as a kid and a bunch of us have remained friends for this decade and a half now, still remaining in the theatre group, though now in the adult section. With some luck, we might stay friends for the rest of our lives. Plus I never feel so much alive as I do standing in front of crowd acting. There is something just so... worthwhile about working towards a production, giving it your all and building off people you know you can count on to tell a story together.

Six of us, all in our early to mid-twenties now who were in the same youth-group when we were kids finally decided to bring another production to the stage together. Though we all hang out, I haven't played with some of them in a decade as we do different productions a year. But we all really wanted to do this.
So we picked a play (most likely, still looking into one more for an alternative but I think we got it.) Last night when watching football the conversation drifted to the casting absentmindedly. And something came from that conversation that has me puzzled.
The play is about 4 people who abduct a hospitalized suspected serial killing pedophile. They lock him up in a basement, get one of the moms of the lost kids to confront him and try to get him to confess to his supposed crimes on tape and put it online all before killing him. It's left a bit open if the guy actually did it, at the end, but he does seem like a sick and twisted and seriously creepy individual none-the-less. Without a doubt, the suspected pedophile is the most  intriguing part and the one with most depth (perhaps aside from the mom).

Now when we were absentmindedly talking cast, I hadn't had a clue yet as to who should play who. But all my friends cast me as the pedophile. As I had a a buzz on, I didn't think more of it than an odd joke. However, the day after, I'm torn. Is it a compliment because it's the most difficult (male) part? Or should I be concerned and take it as an insult that five of my friends immeadiately thought of me as the perfect guy to play a possible pedophile serial killer.

I'm really torn :D It's weird.

I can see your dilemma. Personally I would err to the side of your friends knowing which role was the most difficult and consider you for it, rather than seeing you as a pedophile. You know your friends and their abilities as actors and knowledgeable about their craft.

You might also relay to them your feelings on the matter. Some things are best discussed, rather than to lay and molder in your subconscious. You don't want to do the role being secretly resentful about it.

If this dark play ironically appeals to our better nature, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Compliment.  They think you're up for a tough role.

Yeah, I see it as Hydra does.  They see you able to tackle a hard role--not a 'character actor' role, but one that takes you out of yourself and into a new persona--which I would imagine would be a very hard thing to do.  So your friends see you as being able to do that.  Not an insult, but I would think a big compliment.

yeah, sorry..if all my friends said, "hell yeah, you would make a perfect pedo……" I think I might worry about that myself. But hey, if you have been with them all these years, you guys know each other well enough to also mock you.

Quote from: Mr.Obvious on June 02, 2016, 01:48:09 PM
Is it a compliment because it's the most difficult (male) part? Or should I be concerned and take it as an insult that five of my friends immeadiately thought of me as the perfect guy to play a possible pedophile serial killer.

I'm really torn :D It's weird.

Compliment.

Best stories end with "I never would have suspected..."

It's a definite compliment. They think that you can pull it off ... Besides - the role might get you noticed! Play it!
Does it ever come out whether he did do it? Are you going to tape it? If you do, put it on YouTube, so we can all see it.

It's neither to me. A job to be done is a job to be done.

They thought you'd work, and nothing more... I think...

I'm with the others who said "compliment".  Though if it were me.....................I would have just asked them why they picked me first; just to see how they would react.   

BTW:  I worked with hundreds of peds over the years; when I was in Corrections (prisons).   Interesting (if nauseating) group; if you would like some anectodotes/material to "flesh out" your characterization..............I'd be glad to provide the "stories".   

Thanks for the insights everybody.

@Flanker1Six I'll first see if we really end up with that play and me with that part before I expose myself to that stuff, But thanks :)

@marom1963 We'll probably tape it. But it'll be in Dutch, so I don't think you'd understand it :p

Quote from: Mr.Obvious on June 03, 2016, 11:43:38 AM
Thanks for the insights everybody.

@Flanker1Six I'll first see if we really end up with that play and me with that part before I expose myself to that stuff, But thanks :)

@marom1963 We'll probably tape it. But it'll be in Dutch, so I don't think you'd understand it :p

If you get it, play the crap out of it. Might become a movie. Then I can tell people I "know" who played the stage role.  :biggrin:

Quote from: Flanker1Six on June 03, 2016, 11:37:02 AM

BTW:  I worked with hundreds of peds over the years; when I was in Corrections (prisons).   Interesting (if nauseating) group; if you would like some anectodotes/material to "flesh out" your characterization..............I'd be glad to provide the "stories".   

actually I am somewhat interested. My brother in law was one. I often joked or made cruel remarks about little girls, he never would. In fact he, like most of the self righteous, would go out of their way to express their honorable intentions.

I have been told by others who have had experience with pedo's that they never joke about it, a little close to the "bone" so to speak. Have you seen that as well? Would a clue about pedo's been seen in their aversion and open repulsion to vulgar jokes about sex with children?

Hey Mr. Obvious,


The way I see it is that there are three tangible options:

1) Your mates have chosen you because they all think you're capable of fulfilling the role

2) Your mates think you're a pedophile but are all happy being your mate and saying nothing about it

3) They're not really your mates at all, think you're a pedo and still don't care to say anything about it

So, either your mates ARE your mates and think you're a good actor OR they're all a bunch of twats that are happy to hang around pedos!


I'm betting it's the former or I'm sure they wouldn't associate with you to begin with.


Break a leg, dude!




J :)

Lol :)

In the end I played a different role. It's really ridiculous.
We had a vote in which everyone could vote for everyone's part, saying before the vote that we'd accept any outcome.
We had the outcome. The girls didn't like their outcome. And one of the other guys really wanted to play the pedophile, though I was voted for the part.
Huge discussion errupts. We have another vote.
Same outcome.
Same discussion. The girls end up switching after much debate and the guy keeps asking if he can't play the pedophile as it's the most challenging role according to him and he never gets to when we work with a director. I said fine.

Gotta admitt, he did it swell. Very swell.

If they had suggested you for a hero role, would you now be asking yourself "why"? 

Quote from: Cavebear on December 09, 2016, 06:34:25 AM
If they had suggested you for a hero role, would you now be asking yourself "why"?

Yeah. I would. Glen or Matthew make far better heroes than me.
They are more handsome, for one. Which, as far as heroes in most stories in theatre plays go, counts.
And they are no worse actors than me.

As you said yourself, the pedophile part is the most intriguing and has the most depth. So maybe your friends simply see you as someone intriguing who has depth.

It is a role. It is not as though you are an actual pedophile.

Besides, are theatre nerds capable of bullying?

We changed roles after voting twice and coming up with the same results. (Me as the pedophile.)
Matthew however really wanted to play that part as he doesn't usually get the biggest roles.
He said he wasn't bothered if he had to play the other part, but couldn't let it go either. I told him he'd make a marvelous pedophile and we switched roles.
He did a great job. Though part of me now wished I was the one to play it. :D

(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15085634_10209679647765556_1423110199108056636_n.jpg?oh=280ce745191c441c7aa52313d943deef&oe=5959A923)

And @Sorginak : Bullying? Not really, but our ego's are so inflated they don't take much to get bruised.

If there is anybody on the planet that this should be obvious to, well......you'll never attain the title of Captain obvious at this rate.

But officer, i was just role playing for a part i have in an
upcoming production.

I can see why you're conflicted. lol But, I'd take it as a compliment if the part is complex and requires a good actor to make it work. But, there are actors we see who are always cast for the criminal role in movies, or the psychopath etc. You have me wondering if this bothers them at all. Hmmm. lol

Quote from: Deidre32 on July 31, 2017, 08:34:54 PM
I can see why you're conflicted. lol But, I'd take it as a compliment if the part is complex and requires a good actor to make it work. But, there are actors we see who are always cast for the criminal role in movies, or the psychopath etc. You have me wondering if this bothers them at all. Hmmm. lol

From what I have read about actors, some cherish a role that is easy to maintain (think Edward G Robinson) and some go absolutely bonkers trying to escape them,  (think Leonard Nimoy).  Not everyone can be Hamlet one day and some goofy comedy sidekick the next.

Quote from: Deidre32 on July 31, 2017, 08:34:54 PMBut, there are actors we see who are always cast for the criminal role in movies, or the psychopath etc. You have me wondering if this bothers them at all.

Imho, actors tend to be way more into villainous roles.  Whenever I see a good character become evil, they almost always give a much more interesting performance.  Maybe it's because villainous characters are typically written to be less complicated, less moody, more passionate, more ambitious, and more determined.  It must be fun for an actor to really let loose, kick some dogs, and instill some fear in the main cast.

For some weird reason, this thread reminds me of this news bit:


Robert Pattinson refused to perform sex act with dog for new film (http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/robert-pattinson-refused-to-perform-sex-act-with-dog-for-new-film-36000398.html)

Oh, and I just found this update:


Robert Pattinson praised by PETA 'for refusing to masturbate a dog' (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/robert-pattinson-good-time-dog-sex-act-bestiality-peta-animal-rights-praised-a7878166.html?amp)

Quote from: Unbeliever on August 07, 2017, 04:27:29 PM
Oh, and I just found this update:


Robert Pattinson praised by PETA 'for refusing to masturbate a dog' (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/robert-pattinson-good-time-dog-sex-act-bestiality-peta-animal-rights-praised-a7878166.html?amp)

Peta needs to be collared, neutered and sent to obedience school ... arf!

Quote from: Unbeliever on August 07, 2017, 04:21:25 PM
For some weird reason, this thread reminds me of this news bit:


Robert Pattinson refused to perform sex act with dog for new film (http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/robert-pattinson-refused-to-perform-sex-act-with-dog-for-new-film-36000398.html)

There are some things I actually do not want to know about.  That may be one.