Cut but This, and All is Mended

A Manchester theatre has cancelled a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, partly because of technical problems but also because of a song offensively shaded with references to Gaza and trans rights. The theatre claims to like working with artists who "address complex issues," so perhaps the issue of ethnic cleansing was felt to be demeaning in its simplicity. The disputed song would have involved audience participation, and the theatre management may also have been worried about whether the Zionists or the trans-bashers would assault the stage first. It is to be hoped that someone will break it to them gently about the pro-Gaza bias of The Merchant of Venice; to say nothing of the Scottish play, wherein "liver of blaspheming Jew" is listed alongside various animal, Muslim and pagan parts in the witches' recipe.