White … My Take on Thoroughly Modern Millie. Thoroughly Modern Millie Julie Andrews (Actor), Mary Tyler Moore (Actor), George Roy Hill (Director) & Rated: G. Format: VHS Tape. More Than 50% of Asian American Teens are Bullied in School. Published on July 26, 2011 at 2:50pm. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (or “Thoroughry Modern Mirrie” in Mrs. Meers’ chopstick accent) has a racist streak. It is based on the 1967 film of the same name, which itself was based on the British musical Chrysanthemum, which opened in London in 1956. You guys have to tell us and let us know,’” Jue said. During this time, Asian immigrants faced exclusionary laws and discrimination and fought very hard to … Thoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical-romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews.The screenplay, by Richard Morris, follows a naïve young woman who finds herself in a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss. Stock characters and slapstick tropes have always existed in theatre, from Shakespearean comedies to even something as seemingly benign as the Disney Channel show “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” (remember Esteban?). Talk Back: Racism in Thoroughly Modern Millie at NNHS. When I attended Thursday’s 25-minute preview of Dreyfoos’ production of the Broadway musical (which was intended for all students to see), the subplot and the peddling of outdated Chinese stereotypes horrified me. That film also featured the same storyline with a white pimp masquerading as a Chinese hotel owner (complete in yellowface makeup) and her two Chinese henchmen selling the protagonist into white slavery. This is a fun, high-energy musical focusing on a young woman during the 1920’s flapper era who is “thoroughly modern” in wanting to pursue her own dreams and marry for love instead of … While one may argue that these statistics do not accurately reflect the state of sex trafficking in the … As much as the 2002 Tony-winning Best Musical is a love story about making it in the big city, the show’s major subplot centers on “white slavery.” Hotel Priscilla owner Mrs. Meers (an actor past her prime disguised as an old Chinese woman) drugs young women without families and ships them to Hong Kong with the help of two Chinese henchman, Bun Foo and Ching Ho. This show can be done racist but it doesn’t have to and actually it can actually be anti-racist. I saw an article this week about how a Long Island production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" drew criticism from the Asian American community. Thoroughly Modern Millie premiered on Broadway in 2002, and is based on the 1967 movie musical of the same name. Its racist views toward Asians should earn it a new name: “Thoroughly Racist Millie”! The role of Millie Dillmount is commonly known as Sutton Foster’s claim to fame, which is one of the reasons why it has been such a popular piece of contemporary American Theatre. To quote from postcolonial philosopher Edward Said’s influential Orientalism: “The Orient is the stage on which the whole East is confined. “When you call an Asian person ‘Oriental #1,’ especially in a school production, it’s incredibly offensive,” communications sophomore Michael Wang said. Cosmetic changes do not alter the play’s history. In the Spring semester at school, the Musical Theater Department put on Thoroughly Modern Millie, which was overflowing with racism in its portrayal of Asians. It’s a shame that the topic of stereotyping– one that some found merely innocuous and perhaps even humorous—could, for some students, possibly overshadow the brilliance of the stagecraft, production value, and dancing, among other theatrical elements. A high school musical in New York has sparked controversy after protesters claimed the show was racist against Chinese-Americans. “We talked about different drafts and different things. The musical, featuring a Tony Award-winning performance by Lea Salonga, opened at the Broadway Theatre April 11, 1991. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (or “Thoroughry Modern Mirrie” in Mrs. Meers’ chopstick accent) has a racist streak. It even featured a borderline anti-Semitic depiction of a Jewish wedding, which was conveniently excised in the stage adaptation. “I was rather offended by the jokes and the informal way the sex slave trade in Asia was depicted,” strings senior Xin Yue Yuan said. 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CAPA Drops Musical After Complaints of Racism Stage Left: Thoroughly Modern Racism, or, the problem with MILLIE. CAPA Drops Musical After Complaints of Racism Ashley Park is on a mission to make Thoroughly Modern Millie, well, more modern. I love everything else about the musical; I just think the Chinese stereotyping, racist jokes and the comedic way the sex slave trade were unnecessary and tasteless.”. This week in the life of Seth, Norm Lewis shares a birthday tribute and the cast of. At the time that I had the idea, I wasn't aware that several people before me had actually conceived Thoroughly Modern Millie as a Broadway musical and had tried to make that happen. Thoroughly Modern Millie raised a backlash from students. Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things, starring Sienna Guillory, is to close after less than a month. Photographer Rebecca J. Michelson and graphic designer Tiffany Holt continue their series giving theatre classics a contemporary twist. Felipe Bomeny is a Strings major and  the Op/Ed editor of The Muse. Copyright 1991-2020 © Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lin-Manuel Miranda constantly makes headlines, but what about Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and the rest of Broadway’s founding company? Throwndown NNHS: Talk the Talk or Walk the Walk? I was so looking forward to tonight because it’s another opportunity to cast shade on racist attitudes and assumptions about us and what we know and how smart we are and what we’re capable of, and that’s what the show offered us—it always did. CAPA Drops Musical After Complaints of Racism. While Dreyfoos may not boast as sizeable an Asian demographic as Newton North, the stereotypes do exceed the parameters of taste and therefore some sort of pre-show disclaimer (the solutions chosen by Newton North) would be a small step in recognizing the potential grievances in the characterizations of Bun Foo and Ching Ho, and, to a lesser extent, Mrs. Meers. The 1920s were a time when a feeling of white superiority was prevalent in society. Milliehas all the makings of what could be an incredibly charming, silly film: it has tap-dancing in elevators, inexplicably well-choreographed impromptu … A 2013 production of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' Props to these students for speaking out. The Huntington High School Drama Club has presented “Thoroughly Modern Millie” on April 5&6, 2019! This number does not occur until later in the first act. “The sex slave trade is still a prominent issue in Southeast Asia and for this production to make it into a joke is just rude. A 2013 production of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' Props to these students for speaking out. Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of Kansas transplant Millie Dilmount and her quest to embrace the lifestyle of a modern woman, ripped from the pages of Vogue, in 1922 New York. Sign up for exclusive discounts and save up to 50% on tickets! Regarding Racism in Thoroughly Modern Millie. There are many potential examples, but for the sake of argument I will focus on the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. Thoroughly Modern Millie is one of a rash of West End shows to announce early closure. The henchmen (portrayed by Japanese-American actors Jack Soo and Pat Morita) were disparagingly credited as “Oriental #1” and “Oriental #2,” respectively. — The title number. Over the years, many have come to question the political correctness—or lack thereof—of these characters; some consider the script inherently racist. Advertisement: ... with some overhauls to fit the theatrical format as well as some modifications of the old-fashioned gender politics and racism of its time. There are plenty of laughs to be had in the show, after all, but all outside the insensitive realm of the Hotel Priscilla’s laundry room. “If mocking one’s culture and laughing about it is funny then I guess I have no sense of humor.”. Producing a sanitized version of “Millie” is a way of sanctioning racism—saying that it is OK if we hide it. And the Chinese guys are the heroes of the story: Ching Ho gets the girl, I make enough money to get mom over. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Thoroughly Modern Millie, although adapted for Broadway in 2000, was based off of a 1967 movie set in 1922. Therefore, it’s safe to say that the movie version was controversial. “Several people have already come up to tell me that I’m overreacting and it was only meant to be humorous,” Yuan said. I have always maintained that any show you do can be racist if you do it racist. Mrs. Meers and her two henchmen, Ching Ho and Bun Foo, as they appeared in a 2013 production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. As a member of the original cast, Jue collaborated with the show’s creative team to craft the characters. This week in the life of Seth Rudetsky, Betty Buckley offers lessons on finding one's inner Grizabella. I must say, I was thoroughly upset about the whole thing. Michael John LaChiusa’s Tony-nominated musical opened at the Virginia Theatre April 13, 2000. First, the guys playing the Asians, I believe they were supposed to be Chinese immigrants, had white face makeup and slanty eyes. It is a reflection of how people being "complacent" to racism, especially through humor, WERE ALSO PERPETUATING RACISM. Several students from Newton North High School in Massachusetts expressed their distaste of the stereotypes, prompting a community meeting in which the school’s theatre director apologized. Submit your comments and photos to The Muse! Well, actually, that’s incorrect: the play is set in the 1920s, but the script was written in 2000, based on source material from the 1967 film of the same name. The Pasquerilla East Musical Company (PEMCo) tackles the Broadway giant this weekend in Washington Hall, proving that Ah, the 1920s: Jazz! Thoroughly Modern Millie now!" The Asian Exclusion Act of 1924! But ethnic stock characters have been tricky to write in an increasingly politically correct 21st century, despite their appearances in such Broadway classics as “West Side Story” and “The King and I.”. I feel like the Chinese guys triumph in this show.”. (This subplot was part of the original film, starring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore.). Follow her on Twitter @RuthiesATrain, on Instagram @ruthiefierceberg, or via her website. According to the United States Department of Justice, from 2008-2010 the racial makeup of sex trafficking victims in the USA (the country in which Thoroughly Modern Millie is set), in cases where the individuals' races were known, was 40.4% Black, 25.6% White, 23.9% Latine, 5.8% Other and 4.3% Asian. “I have always thought that the Chinese guys and Mrs. Meers are the most revolutionary part of this show,” Jue told Playbill. Theatre Ink confronts racism and what it means to be a modern woman in the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” which goes up Thursday, March 13 through Saturday March 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m., in the auditorium. They call back to the historical marginalization of Asians as the psychological “Other” in the West. Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of Kansas transplant Millie Dilmount and her quest to embrace the lifestyle of a modern woman, ripped from the pages of Vogue, in 1922 New York. Students seated near me were passive and unapologetic, with some remarking, “Well, the play is from the 1920s, so…”. Amazon.com: Thoroughly Modern Millie: Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing, George Roy Hill: Movies & TV Watching this aggressively eager show is like being stampeded by circus ponies. When I attended Thursday’s 25-minute preview of Dreyfoos’ production of the Broadway musical (which was intended for all students to see), the subplot and the peddling of outdated Chinese stereotypes horrified me. Meyer Hall isn’t the only stage where such painfully gauche stereotypes may haunt concertgoers, however. Stereotypes and racist jokes survive as nothing more than cheap laughs with little redeemable or intellectual qualities, as is the case in Dreyfoos’ production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” In several instances, they can even be hurtful, even if delivered under a pretext of “good fun,” or even out of the context of the larger work. The racism of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” cannot be edited out. Another show that casts Asians in a negative light is Thoroughly Modern Millie. ... anti-immigrant racism and a looming sense of approaching doom with the capacity to destroy everything America stands for. The Thoroughly Modern Millie Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Rebuttal to ’Millie in Newton: Turn Stereotypes into Lessons. Dick Scanlan: Thoroughly Modern Millie was an idea that I had when I first began writing in the late 1980s. Flappers! A Philadelphia high school has dropped plans to stage the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie after students complained about the play's racist depiction of Asians. That message [of the brothers] is the same as Millie’s empowerment and the same as Muzzy’s empowerment. Contact us: Niles West Theatre c/o Niles West High School 5701 West Oakton Skokie, IL 60077 Box Office: (847) 626-2633 He remembers constantly re-working Bun Foo and Ching Ho during the 2000 out-of-town tryout at the La Jolla Playhouse and leading up to the Broadway run. Find Thoroughly Modern Millie at Amazon.com Movies & TV, home of thousands of titles on DVD and Blu-ray. Modifying some elements of a racist production will not make the play acceptable. The New Yorker ran a story in which a school production renamed Bun Foo and Ching Ho to the more innocuous “Brian” and “Charles,” and dropped altogether the Asian subplot. “We had lots of discussion and [writer] Dick Scanlan and [composer] Jeanine Tesori and [director] Michael Mayer turned to me and [original Ching Ho] Ken Leung and said, ‘You guys have to be our barometers. In this show, the character Mrs. Meers pretends to be a Chinese woman and runs a white slavery ring with two Asian characters named Ching Ho and Bun Foo. by Dorian J-----. A Philadelphia high school has dropped plans to stage the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie after students complained about the play's racist depiction of Asians. But considering that we’re not living in the ‘20s or even the ‘60s anymore, the inclusion of the Asian plotline almost 30 years following the movie’s release is a testament to the perpetuation of typecasting and stereotyping in the entertainment industry. The site offers hope for a reopening on the horizon—and a job to some out-of-work stage folk. But after the 15th anniversary reunion concert, actor Francis Jue, who originated the role of Bun Foo, shed light on the writing and performance of these characters. Do You Know In What Shows These 25 Stars Made Their Broadway Debuts. Hard sell doesn't begin to describe ''Thoroughly Modern Millie,'' adapted from the 1967 movie musical of the same title. While the characters were given “Chinese-sounding” names in the Broadway adaptation, the term “Oriental” is still a sore spot in American society. Thoroughly Modern Millie is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. Recently I sat down and watched the 1967 film musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, starring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore. THE MUSE • © 2021 The Muse at Dreyfoos • FLEX WordPress Theme by SNO • Log in. There are no upcoming events at this time. Meanwhile, The Boston Globe also reported several instances of schools performing edited or revised versions of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” sans stereotypes. The 2002 Tony-winning musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” gained commercial success and popular praise throughout its 903-show run by giving Broadway audiences what they had been yearning for years: the glitz of the 1920s, show-stopping show tunes and tap. “To actually have real Chinese guys singing and speaking in their own language and meaning it, and to link their immigrant story to the same story as Millie and Jimmy and Muzzy, all these people who just want to be their best selves and come to America because of the American Dream, all these people who come to New York to reinvent themselves and be modern—I think is exactly what the Chinese guys are all about.”. The Orient then seems to be, not an unlimited extension beyond the familiar European world, but rather a closed field, a theatrical stage affixed to Europe.”. Please sign this petition and let the Mr. Polansky, the superintendent of Huntington schools hear … Henchmen Ching Ho and Bun Foo (these names are not actually Chinese) are unnecessary caricatures of tired tropes (such as the submissive Asian stereotype). 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,567 ratings. Character Portrayal in Thoroughly Modern Millie To the Producer and Director of Thoroughly Modern Millie As you may know, there have been a small number of schools that have expressed concern that as presented in the Millie script, Mrs. Meers, Bun Foo and Ching Ho may be construed as offensive to the Chinese community. In the printed story, we wrote that "Crazy for You" opens with a song that uses household items to create rhythm. Ruthie Fierberg is the Senior Features Editor of Playbill covering all things theatre and co-hosting the Opening Night Red Carpet livestreams on Playbill's Facebook. 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