SLAV shouldn’t have been shut down

Re Theatre director appalled by SLAV show cancellation, July 7

I am greatly disappointed that Robert Lepage’s Montreal production SLAV was shut down by protesters complaining about cultural appropriation. His intent was clearly to create a thoughtprovoking piece, and Lepage’s decision to stage and cast this play using mostly white actors was central to his creative concept for this particular play.

It’s certainly vital for ethnic groups to tell and perform their own stories, but the need to create those opportunities is a separate issue from the misguided notion of citing cultural appropriation to impose artistic tyranny and censorship on other ethnic groups and/or genders who want to contribute to the understanding of the human condition across nationality, race, gender, religion and so on.

In a few weeks I will attend the Stratford Festival to see a number of plays, at least three of which are cast against the norm: The Tempest, starring a white actress playing the white male role of Prospero; The Music Man, starring a black actor in the romantic lead instead of the usual white male (which means an interracial couple on stage that would technically have been against the law in the time period and setting of the play); and Robert Lepage’s acclaimed production of Coriolanus, starring a black actor in the role of a white male Roman general.

Why is colour/gender-blind casting not only considered acceptable but applauded in these instances, while the reverse is cultural appropriation? I don’t believe you can have it both ways. Nancy Miller, Toronto