Officials at a Toronto private school say they “deeply regret” that some parents were offended after a play accused of containing “gratuitous anti-Semitic” content was performed for students.

On Monday, two dozen parents of students attending Bishop Strachan School – an all-girls private day and boarding school – sent a letter to the boards of governors and trustees to share their objections to an adaptation of the play “The Merchant of Venice” 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’s play to those used by Hitler during the Holocaust.

“Instead, 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,” the parents wrote.

Box Clever Theatre apologized if any students at Bishop Strachan School were “upset” 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.

“None of these productions have prompted any complaints,” the theatre said in an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca. “The production seeks to challenge hatred in all its manifestations and remind audiences of the dangers and consequences of unchallenged discrimination.”

The company added that it’s “opposed to anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination.”

The letter said the parents weren’t opposed to the teaching of “The Merchant of Venice” or addressing racially charged subject matter with their children, but the adaptation’s “blatant anti-Semitism,” which was intended as satire, may have been misunderstood by the school’s young audience because they weren’t adequately prepared ahead of time.

“Many 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,” the letter said.

According to the parents, students told them they were expected to yell “Hallelujah” in response to the actor onstage shouting anti-Semitic statements such as “Burn their Synagogues,” “Take away their holy books,” and “Burn the Jews” 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 “as large and offensive as possible” 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 “favourable light, as a humorous and likable individual.”

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 “complicated” issues.

“We believe that different perspectives and experiences enrich learning and affirm our commitment to excellence,” the statement read.

The statement also addressed the controversy surrounding the play itself.

“The 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,” the statement said. “It is not a comfortable subject nor one that is easily addressed. We deeply regret that some students and parents were upset by the presentation.”

The group of parents said the administration’s apologies to the Jewish students who felt hurt by the presentation don’t go far enough.

“To remedy the damage already done, we believe the school needs to act quickly to hopefully reverse the harmful effects of this production,” the parents said. “We 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.”

The parents suggested the school work with well-known Jewish organizations, such as Simon Wiesenthal, B’nai 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’re 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 “counteract the damage.”

“We 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 “address any unresolved issues.”