A Japanese inspired production of Julius Caesar playing in Philadelphia is being called racist, reports PhillyMag.com.
Philadelphia theater artist Makoto Hirano in a letter to the Lantern Theater wrote a letter he titled “How to stage a show without being super racist.”
“Don’t say you were inspired by feudal Japan and then not cast any Japanese actors.
“Don’t put your 100 percent non-Japanese cast in robes that have kanji (Japanese characters) printed all over them because maybe you think that brings out the Asian in them. Because it won’t.
“Don’t switch to Chinese kung fu shirts midway through and hope nobody notices. Oh, wow. Don’t do that.
The Lantern Theater has extended an invitation to the Asian American community to open a dialogue.
“Our production of Julius Caesar has offended some people, and we want to better understand their concerns,” said Lantern director Charles McMahon. “I have reached out personally to Makoto as well as other members of the local theater and Asian American communities and am interested in hearing all points of view.”
You can read the entire letter from Hirano and the theater’s complete response in PhillyMag.com.
