Cannot unsee.

There are worse things in life than resembling a Takeshi Murakami art piece.

Seeing M. Butterfly: A Drama in Three Scenes.

Scene one: the costume shop at a small university. Between a barely-started Beijing Opera dress and a kimono stand ME and FRIEND.

Me: What's this all about?

Friend: We're doing M. Butterfly.

Me: Really? I love M. Butterfly! We should see it together.

ME turns to the rack. The sections are divided according to character, with the actor's name beneath. ME reads the name for Song.

Me: Huh. That name doesn't sound Asian. Maybe it's like my last name and it got Anglicised when it came over here.

Scene two: a month later. ME is walking by the theater building on his way to the library. Hearing music, he looks over, not slowing, and sees some actors. One is wearing the Beijing Opera dress.

Me: Hm. Is that the actor playing Song? He looks like he might be half-Asian.

Scene three: a few weeks later. ME is sitting in front of the computer; in the last week he has spread word of M. Butterfly's production, and he is now checking the school website.

Me: Oh, they've announced M. Butterfly, and there's a picture.

ME clicks on the link and sees that the role of Song is played by a young white male.

Me: We're gonna have a problem here.

Fin

Seriously, are there no competent Asian students in our acting program? I might still see the play since a hundred free seats are reserved for students, but if I don't get one of those, I'm probably not going to pay. Honestly, it sort of defeats the purpose of M. Butterfly to cast someone who isn't of Asian descent in the role of Song.