Isle of Wight theatre show of The Mikado in discussion on letters page

If bums on seats and selling tickets were the only arbiters of whether or not something should be staged then bears fighting in cages would still be top of the bill.

Once again, a letter writer has attacked a theatre critic for simply offering a thoughtful, contextualised opinion.

It’s disappointing that many in the Island's amateur theatre community seem unwilling to accept anything but unqualified praise for their efforts.

• Read more: Joe Plumb's review of The Mikado
• Read more: Ridiculous to say The Mikado is offensive

A critic’s role is to serve as a trusted friend for both audiences and theatre makers.

As the saying goes, only a true friend tells you when your face is dirty.

It’s widely acknowledged that The Mikado perpetuates racial stereotypes, and when performed by mostly Caucasian actors, it can be seen as insensitive and misrepresentative of Japanese culture.

I am the first person to defend that actors should be free to portray a wide range of characters and behaviours.

However, as we strive for a more inclusive society, we must be mindful of who is telling whose story to whom.

Perhaps it is time to move beyond reproducing light comic operas from the 1850s with their racially stereotyped characters and stories, no matter how well they sell.