Officials at a Toronto private school say they 鈥渄eeply regret鈥� that some parents were offended after a play accused of containing 鈥済ratuitous anti-Semitic鈥� content was performed for students.
On Monday, two dozen parents of students attending Bishop Strachan School 鈥� an all-girls private day and boarding school 鈥� sent a letter to the boards of governors and trustees to share their objections to an adaptation of the play 鈥淭he Merchant of Venice鈥� that was presented to Grade 11 students by a U.K. theatre company last week.
In a copy of the letter provided to CTVNews.ca by one of the parents, the group said the production missed the mark in its attempt to link anti-Semitic messages in Shakespeare鈥檚 play to those used by Hitler during the Holocaust.
鈥淚nstead, Box Clever [the theatre company] materially exaggerated the anti-Semitic sentiment of the original version of the play and sadly introduced the Holocaust in a humorous light that minimized its impact and offended many of the Jewish students whose families were personally affected,鈥� the parents wrote.
Box Clever Theatre apologized if any students at Bishop Strachan School were 鈥渦pset鈥� as a result of seeing their play. The company said the adaptation they performed was first produced in 1998 and has been presented in schools and theatres in the U.K. and in Ireland. Box Clever also said it was shown at the Gerard Behar Theatre in Jerusalem as guests of the Thespis International Theatre Festival.
鈥淣one of these productions have prompted any complaints,鈥� the theatre said in an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca. 鈥淭he production seeks to challenge hatred in all its manifestations and remind audiences of the dangers and consequences of unchallenged discrimination.鈥�
The company added that it鈥檚 鈥渙pposed to anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination.鈥�
The letter said the parents weren鈥檛 opposed to the teaching of 鈥淭he Merchant of Venice鈥� or addressing racially charged subject matter with their children, but the adaptation鈥檚 鈥渂latant anti-Semitism,鈥� which was intended as satire, may have been misunderstood by the school鈥檚 young audience because they weren鈥檛 adequately prepared ahead of time.
鈥淢any teachers did not explain to the students the intent and reasoning behind the blatant anti-Semitism in the play and instead there was a divisive classroom of students either supporting or criticizing the play,鈥� the letter said.
According to the parents, students told them they were expected to yell 鈥淗allelujah鈥� in response to the actor onstage shouting anti-Semitic statements such as 鈥淏urn their Synagogues,鈥� 鈥淭ake away their holy books,鈥� and 鈥淏urn the Jews鈥� to mimic how Hitler brainwashed youth before the Holocaust.
In addition to the chanting, the letter said the theatre company told a Grade 11 drama student to build a nose that was 鈥渁s large and offensive as possible鈥� to be used in the play. The parents also took issue with the casual way references to events during the Holocaust, such as Kristallnacht and Jewish people boarding trains to concentration camps, were portrayed in the play.
Lastly, the complaint said Hitler was depicted in a 鈥渇avourable light, as a humorous and likable individual.鈥�
Finding a resolution
Kate Jamieson, the director of marketing and communications for Bishop Strachan School, said in an emailed statement that the school is committed to discussing and dealing with 鈥渃omplicated鈥� issues.
鈥淲e believe that different perspectives and experiences enrich learning and affirm our commitment to excellence,鈥� the statement read.
The statement also addressed the controversy surrounding the play itself.
鈥淭he play confronted issues of anti-Semitism and challenged hate and prejudice across the centuries, to make the point that we still have a great deal of work to do, and to use the play as an opportunity to learn,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淚t is not a comfortable subject nor one that is easily addressed. We deeply regret that some students and parents were upset by the presentation.鈥�
The group of parents said the administration鈥檚 apologies to the Jewish students who felt hurt by the presentation don鈥檛 go far enough.
鈥淭o remedy the damage already done, we believe the school needs to act quickly to hopefully reverse the harmful effects of this production,鈥� the parents said. 鈥淲e think it is imperative that the school engages with professional organizations who are equipped to handle the sensitive and delicate subjects of bigotry and prejudice.鈥�
The parents suggested the school work with well-known Jewish organizations, such as Simon Wiesenthal, B鈥檔ai Brith, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, to discuss the themes presented in the play.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) said they鈥檙e in conversation with staff and parents at Bishop Strachan School following the publication of this story. The Toronto-based educational organization said they have offered workshops and a tour of their facility to 鈥渃ounteract the damage.鈥�
鈥淲e are often called in by schools to prep students for case studies in understanding the Holocaust and anti-Semitism to contextualize the tragedy. Satirical content and simulation of speech, if true in this case, is never permitted in our programs, and we strongly discourage educators from applying this method of pedagogy," FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo said in an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca.
Jamieson said school officials are meeting with concerned parents to 鈥渁ddress any unresolved issues.鈥�
