Als did not reply to e-mails or an interview request from the Observer. Nor did the theater or Mackie have an official reaction. “We have no comment, nor does Anthony Mackie,” said a spokeswoman for the production.
Some Broadway experts, however, agreed that, while the work does contain racially provocative material, it is unlikely to cause widespread offense, especially with audiences there to see Walken. “I can understand why an African American may approach the play with a little reticence, but I don’t think that is McDonagh’s intent,” said Dan Bacalzo, managing editor of Theatermania, a top New York theater Web site.
Bacalzo defended McDonagh’s right to put racist language in the mouths of one of his characters as he tries to take on American themes. “For Americans race is more important than class, so the material is appropriate for him to tackle when dealing with America,” he added.
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