Last night I watched the movie of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Flower Drum Song" (1961) again. After the movie, the commentators really dug into deep subjects. They analyzed how this movie explored the themes of illegal immigration and fighting Asian stereotypes on screen. I had read that Oscar Hammerstein was very interested in dissolving racial bias wherever he could through his writing. These analysts compared the typical roles Asian people, particularly Asian women, played on screen and how those roles portrayed them as cooks, servants, call girls, evil gangsters, or running a Chinese laundry. They never portrayed Asian people as regular folks leading real and interesting lives.
At age 8 when I first saw the movie, it never really occurred to me to consider the plight of Asian people trying to survive and assimilate into a new culture.
Hearing such deep analysis always makes me feel so shallow. Mostly, I grew up enjoying "The Flower Drum Song" because I liked the music. My mother bought the folio of songs and I had fun playing and singing them as a young teenager. We even went to see a touring production in Houston starring Jack Soo (who was also in the movie). After the show, we met him and got his autograph. Back then, I just accepted the show as an entertaining story about Chinese people in China town. I never even questioned how unique it was to see a live theater performance featuring a cast made up of just Asian actors.
At age 8 when I first saw the movie, it never really occurred to me to consider the plight of Asian people trying to survive and assimilate into a new culture.
Hearing such deep analysis always makes me feel so shallow. Mostly, I grew up enjoying "The Flower Drum Song" because I liked the music. My mother bought the folio of songs and I had fun playing and singing them as a young teenager. We even went to see a touring production in Houston starring Jack Soo (who was also in the movie). After the show, we met him and got his autograph. Back then, I just accepted the show as an entertaining story about Chinese people in China town. I never even questioned how unique it was to see a live theater performance featuring a cast made up of just Asian actors.
When adapting a story or folk tale from another culture for Children's Theater, I have often wondered whether I would cause offense. Knowing that these shows would most likely be performed by kids NOT of the culture represented, I wondered if the meat of the story could carry the show.
I ultimately decided that since the actors and the audiences were already prepared to "suspend their disbelief," they could accept kids portraying Persian Princesses, Chinese Emperors, mythical Greek Muses, tiny Insects, or assorted Barnyard Animals whatever they looked like in real life.
I ultimately decided that since the actors and the audiences were already prepared to "suspend their disbelief," they could accept kids portraying Persian Princesses, Chinese Emperors, mythical Greek Muses, tiny Insects, or assorted Barnyard Animals whatever they looked like in real life.
So, here's to hoping that a cast of many skin tones and hair colors can pull off a convincing production of "A Successor to the Throne" in this summer's Musical Theater Camp.
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