Secret Warriors - History Theatre

photo: Rick Spaulding

A new play by R. A. Shiomi, directed by Lily Tung Crystal, about Japanese-Americans who learned Japanese to patriotically help their country fight Japan during World War 2? Well, seeing this show is a no-brainer, at least for me. Why? Well, Shiomi and Crystal were both artistic directors of Theater Mu, and we all know that company does really good work. The History Theatre consistently put out good, and often new work with a constant Minnesota connection. Finally I am personally connected to this because while I am fully American and white, I was raised in Japan - and not on a Military base, but in Japanese neighborhoods. So most Japanese or Asian stories are on my radar of interest.

Secret Warriors tells of four soldiers who were recruited to join a secret group. These man are all Japanese-Americans who had joined up or were drafted into the Army. Tamio (Erik Ohno Dogoberg), Masa (Song Kim), Isamu who is also called Sam (Josh Kwon), and Koji Kimura (Clay Man Soo) are approached about going to a Japanese Language School in Minnesota. If they do well in the school, they will be able to support the war effort by translating messages from the Pacific Theater. They agree and we the audience get to watch them bond with each other, while also seeing the blatant discrimination they face strictly because of who they are, and where their parents come from. Despite the face that their families are all in Japanese Internment camps, or concentration camps as the program calls them. While at school Tamio and Koji request a break from their studies, to give their brains a break. The group is given time away from studies, and they go to a USO dance where they meet two girls. Koji meets Natsuko (Stephanie Anne Bertumen), while Tamio meets Denise (Kendall Kent). Being the only two women in the cast of nine, Stephanie and Kendall help create an emotional heart to the work. They help tell the stories of the women left behind during the war, and what they can do to support the troops as well as the men they fall in love with. Denise and Tamio's relationship also provides the perspective of a mixed race couple during war time. Rounding out the cast are Rich Remedios (playing two Japanese/Japanese-American characters), Paul LaNave and Tony Larkin (both playing multiple roles). The majority of the cast also play smaller ensemble roles.

photo: Rick Spaulding

While Act One tells the story of this group getting together, learning, and bonding, Act Two takes us into the war. We find out where they are all stationed, and the focus remains mainly on Tamio and Koji. We see the blatant racism towards these four men even though they are American citizens, and fighting on the side of America...all because they look different and speak a different language. Some of the story with the racism, and the concentration camps may feel very familiar to those of us who are watching the daily news. This story may be set during World War two, but there is quite a bit that mirrors what is happening today. We see Tamio read the letters he writes to Denise, and some of her letters. We also hear some of the correspondence between Koji and Natsuko. All of the letters help set the time and place for events, as well as allowing the audience to get more involved in the relationships, more invested. We, the audience, clearly want a happy ending for these couples, but being a war time story we also can assume that one of those couples may not make it. We do find out at the end of the story what happens to each of the characters. So there are very few story lines left hanging.

photo: Rick Spaulding

The cast, staging, and design work are all top-notch as expected from the History Theatre. The play is well written (and hopefully gets a life outside of the History Theatre), and is well directed - as is expected from these two luminaries in Asian Theatre at the helm of this show. The story keeps you involved and interested through out. Each performer is on top of their game, showing us the full rounded characters that they play. This goes for the performers who are playing multiple roles as well - they do their best to give their characters a well-rounded outing, even if they aren't given many lines or actions. While I do have two small qualms with the performances, I doubt anyone else in the audience really cares. The first has to do with a character who smokes, but clearly doesn't know how or at least does not look comfortable doing it. The second is regarding the Japanese language. There are a number of times where a conversation will start in Japanese, then move to English. Often times I could not make out the Japanese words that were being spoken. I recognize that it may not be the easiest language to learn from a script, even with a language consultant, but if these characters truly were fluent enough to translate military operations, and be a consultant, or even help interrogate Japanese prisoners...well I feel like expectations were set.

Neither of these qualms took anything away from the fantastic story that is being told, and the really good acting, and direction that is happening on the stage of the History Theatre. This show is timely, and displays a slice of Minnesota history, and American history that few know. For this, and many other reasons, it is worth seeing. Go and enjoy it!