Statement

Age is very important when it comes to this production. Much of the conflict is against the older generation of the Shakers and the newcomers. It shows the gap in between the generations as well. The young girls are gossiping about the brethren and how they want to dance with them while the older women talk about chores and how they need to take care of different situations in their family. The conflict with the angels shows this gap as well. The eldress Hannah doesn’t believe that Fanny could possibly see angels since she is an uneducated young woman. The younger girls Polly and Izzy believe her since they started having gifts such as the gift of drawing and the gift of laughing. The older Shakers believe that these girls are unfit to see angels they do not believe them at all and accuse them of seeing the brethren which is a high crime.

This production could very well use different races for casting. The Shaker society at the historical time was not about the different races but about simplicity. Therefore, placing a person of race would not be an issue. The two roles that would be considered an issue for placing actors of race would be the roles of Peggy and Polly. Peggy is the role of the cook and would bring out a lot of stereotypes. Also, Polly has the background of “working on her back in a fancy house in Lexington”. Having a actor of race play her would give off a negative opinion towards the race of the actor.

Gender is not the main issue in the production but it gives the conflict an understandable reason. The theme is about the age gap between the two generations. If it was an all male cast, the different personalities would not be believable and the plot would be completely different. The females are able to convey information to the audience with their gossiping. Men would have a different means which may not be the playwright’s intention with the production. Having an all female cast also gives the different personalities more conflict. For instance, Hannah’s personality makes her a concerned woman for her family that has grounded roots. If Hannah was played a man, she would seem tyrannical and would have audiences put off by her. Also, Izzy’s personality is very innocent and naive. If she was played as a boy, she would seem stupid and blind to reason.

Since this Shaker society is a culture of its own, having a person of a distinct culture would make the production a bit unbelievable. One role that could be believable with a person of ethnicity would be Fanny, since she is the newcomer. It would not be recommended to have Hannah a woman of ethnicity because she is to be the ideal Shaker since she is the eldress and the role model for the entire family.

Anyone with a physical disability would have a difficult time with this production. If the director believes that a disable person is the right actor for the part, there is no valid reason not to be a part of the production. However, mobility is important since part of the production since during services. Shakers got the name “Shakers” because during their religious services they would shake and dance. Other than mobility disable, there is not any disability that would disturb the audience. If the actor is able to work with their disability so they are not hindered, then there is no reason not to have the actor in any of the roles.