Lisa Jakub, who played Robin Williams' daughter in "Mrs. Doubtfire," reflects on the legendary actor's kindness and humor, while critics weigh in on the musical adaptation's supposed portrayal of transgender individuals.
Lisa Jakub, who played Lydia Hillard in the 1993 comedy "Mrs. Doubtfire" opposite Robin Williams, recently shared her memories of working with the beloved actor.
"He was everything you would hope he'd be," Jakub told Fox News Digital. "He was so kind, so funny, and so generous with his time."
Mrs. Doubtfire's Lydia Hillard Shares Her Fond Memories of Robin Williams
Jakub recalled one particular incident where Williams went out of his way to make her feel comfortable during a scene where her character was supposed to be scared.
"I remember one scene where I was supposed to be scared of him, and he was just so gentle and kind," she said. "He made sure that I was okay, and he really took care of me."
Mrs. Doubtfire's Lydia Hillard Shares Her Fond Memories of Robin Williams
Jakub said that Williams' kindness extended beyond the set.
"He was always checking in on me, making sure that I was okay," she said. "He was really a wonderful person."
Mrs. Doubtfire's Lydia Hillard Shares Her Fond Memories of Robin Williams
As the "Mrs. Doubtfire" musical returns to San Francisco, critics are accusing the play of containing "tired, transphobic tropes."
The petition, inspired by the words of trans theater critic Brin Solomon, cites the premise of men wearing dresses as a "ridiculous" joke.
Mrs. Doubtfire's Lydia Hillard Shares Her Fond Memories of Robin Williams
"The core premise of the man-in-a-dress joke is that it's ridiculous and unnatural for a man to wear a dress," Solomon wrote. "Because mainstream society, by and large, thinks of trans women as 'men in dresses' instead of women, the man-in-a-dress joke perpetuates the idea that trans women are 'unnatural' and fit for ridicule and scorn."
A "New York Times" review of the musical expressed concern about the potential for the production's revival to live up to that of the original 1993 film starring Robin Williams.
The critique read that McClure's version of Daniel was "more irritating than entertaining" and that the character's behavior came off as "more creepy than kooky."
Actor Rob McClure, who plays Daniel Hillard in the live-action production, has defended the play, calling out homophobia as the root of the criticism.
"To see them celebrate a story that ends with a guy in drag getting his own children's television show, they're giving it a standing ovation, not realizing they're cheering against their own preconceived biases," McClure told SFGate. "In a weird way, they're showing their hand, that their issue isn't drag, it's homophobia."
McClure said that he believes the play is not anti-transgender, but rather a celebration of diversity.
"We're not trying to say that transgender people are not valid," he said. "We're saying that it's okay for a man to wear a dress, and that it's okay for a man to express his femininity."
The Broadway production of "Mrs. Doubtfire" is currently playing at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco.
The musical is set in San Francisco, and it features many of the same iconic landmarks from the original film, such as Steiner Street and the Painted Ladies.
McClure said that he believes that the play's message of acceptance and understanding is particularly relevant in today's world.
"I hope that this play can help people to understand that it's okay to be different," he said. "It's okay to be transgender, it's okay to be gay, and it's okay to be whoever you are."
