www.dailyherald.com: First Folio Theatre executive director David Rice did something this week he hasn't had to do in 35 years as a theater professional: He defended his company's casting and his director's vision.
In an email statement to First Folio supporters and the press, Rice addressed complaints from some theatergoers objecting to the Oak Brook theater's casting of William Shakespeare's "As You Like It." The production features a same-sex couple and three interracial couples.
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Especially in light of recent events, I feel that it is more important than ever to remind people that art transcends such surface-level differences as race, gender, and creed. Storytellers have ever adapted their tales to the audience to increase the relevancy of their words. So, in a truly global society, should our art not represent people of all nationalities, of all shades, of all genders, and of all religions?
This is a topic I have written about many times on this blog, however, with each new incident I feel the need to restate that I see no real point in producing classic works like Shakespeare if we do not use that material to speak about our current society and to include new groups in the theatrical community and to generate discussion. There are so many exciting new plays being written by talented and intelligent people every day that a theatrical company could be producing so why do a Shakespeare play unless you are going to utilize it for what it is: a common framework from which we can begin discussions about complex issues? Of course, "reimagining" Shakespeare has become a trope unto itself in recent years. However, I believe that if you want to produce Shakespeare just because, for example, the writing is brilliant than you are better off just reading the play and putting up something more relevant in its stead. I think, outside of educational institutions, producing classics because they are classics is a luke-warm use of the power that a theatrical experience can have.
I am from Chicago so I know every company and the scandals that they listed personally. I am also obviously a black person, one who has always felt disillusioned with theatre because I felt unincluded. First Folio is doing the work that all theatre should be doing in the hateful political climate that we find ourselves in today. Theatre is not meant to subscribe to puritanical and oppressive social standards but is instead meant to make all patrons think outside of the box about humanity and the condition of the world. Ultimately, all humans, black, white, gay, straight, experience romantic love in similar ways and deserve to see themselves represented in popular media. I am more proud than ever to come from the theatre community in Chicago, where people who look like me are easy to come by on stage, especially in Shakespeare productions.
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