Redefined Roles Run in 'The Front Page'

The media of the 1920s saw its fair share of scandals and sensationalism. And one thing that this once-predominantly white male arena did not represent was diversity. Accordingly, “The Front Page”—a play written by former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur that was first produced in 1928—attests to this stereotype, characterizing journalism as an elitist gentlemen’s club. But in BlackCast’s current production of the play—which opened last night and will run through Nov. 15 in the Agassiz Theatre—director Andrew C. Coles ’09 takes creative liberties to accurately portray modern society’s heterogeneity.

Browsing the original cast list, one thing is certain—if you’re either a woman or a person of color, you aren’t going to get much stage time. It’s an unfortunate trend throughout Western theater: typecasting often places women into roles as either sexualized damsels in distress or desexualized comed relief, while black characters are often marginalized altogether. To offset these outdated limitations, BlackCast has reworked the script’s basic structure and implemented gender- and race-blind casting.

“Too often directors are too strict in their interpretation of the play,” Coles says. “If it is set in Victorian England, the play would be all 20 white men and women, and that is not representative of theater at Harvard.”

But through a dramatic change in temporal setting—the play is set in the late 50s and early 60s instead of the 20s—and the inclusion of more female roles to signify the emergence of women in the workplace, the end result yields a startling change: a newly revised cast list that includes five female and three male reporters.

“Traditionally, there are fewer roles for women,” Coles says. “But it has been interesting reframing the play and changing the lines while still maintaining the integrity of the playwrights’ intent.”

And in a broader sense, despite the script’s rather anachronistic language, the work still resonates with current issues that need no translation.

“The play has a lot to say about race relations and the media,” says Erica K. Senat ’12, who plays the roles of the prostitute Molly Malloy and Mrs. Schlosser. “With the overload of news coverage today, I think it is relevant to see.”

The play’s Broadway success and numerous film adaptations can also be attributed to its lighthearted comedy and clever use of language. For Hecht and MacArthur, who thankfully quit their day jobs to give the public an unadulterated looked behind the scenes of the ubiquitous media, words are definitely not used sparingly. Monologues? Forget about it. Three people talking over each other at the same time? That’s more like it.

“It’s interesting how fast-paced and dialogue-driven the story is. Instead of showing action through developing complex characters, the plot is primarily driven by what people say,” says Ryan P. Halprin ’12, who plays the role of quick-witted Herald Examiner reporter Hildy Johnson.

But Coles’s main objective is to use this updated and more relatable version of “The Front Page” in order to translate the play’s timeless social critique to a modern audience, ultimately provoking a meaningful discourse.

“It’s up to the individual to take what they will from the play, but I hope that people coming to see the show are reflecting on the role the media plays in our everyday life and how facts are distorted,” he says. “We need to be aware that this isn’t a phenomenon isolated to this show.”