Secret Warriors Examines the Sacrifices and Heroism of Japanese Americans in WWII at History Theatre

Secret Warriors by R.A. Shiomi reminds us that the ugliness we see around us everyday, especially from our government is not new. It tells a story from a shameful moment in our country’s history, when Americans of Japanese descent were rounded up and imprisoned in camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. That is the backdrop upon which this story is told, in the foreground are four soldiers, who despite what was happening to their families volunteered for a secret project that saved thousands of lives during the war. While we follow these four soldiers through their agreement to enroll in the program, the subsequent training, and their ultimate deployment in the Pacific theater, we are constantly aware of internment camps. The set design by Erik Paulson significantly contributes to this by having the back of the set inclosed in tall chain link fences panels with barbed wire along the top. Whenever the scene changes and wherever the action on stage is taking place, that barbed wire fence stands as a reminder of the injustice that is occuring to the characters families back home. Just as this play, masterfully directed by Lily Tung Crystal, should stand as a reminder that we’ve done all of this before and regretted it.

The four soldiers whom we follow throughout the production are played by Erik Ohno Dagoberg, Song Kim, Josh Kwon, and Clay Man Soo. The story really focuses on two of the soldiers, Tamio played by Dagoberg, and Koji played by Clay Man Soo. While they seem to clash when they first meet, Tamio being a cocky and aggressive personality compared to Koji’s more reserved demeanor, they soon become friends. Soo is good, particularly once he enters the war and uses his skills as a translator to get the enemy to surrender or talking officers of the Japanese army into providing information that will save lives on both sides. Dagoberg is electric, from the moment he comes on stage, it’s a role that requires a big personality and he delivers that but without being over the top, he’s subtly charismatic and that draws the audience into him even more. One of the things that bonds the two is they both meet and fall in love with girls at the same USO dance. Stephanie Anne Bertumen reunites with her Sanctuary City costar Soo, as Koji’s girlfriend Natsuko. While Tamio’s eventual fiance Denise Murphy is played by Kendall Kent. Bertumen and Kent’s performances are crucial to the audiences involvement in the show. The idea itself would make an interesting play to be sure. But, the romantic relationships made so heartfelt by Bertumen and Kent are key to raising our emotional involvement in the characters and raising the level of the play from interesting to compelling. Their letters from home help to build the tension and the concern for the characters raising the emotional bar of what is at stake.

Paulson’s set design in effective in Act One, with a backdrop on which Kathy Maxwell’s projections are splashed, giving us virtual locals or context to the scenes. When the audience returns from intermission for Act Two, we are astonished to see the stage transformed. Wooden structures that formed stairways on the sides of the stage have been moved to the center and combined to represent for example, a ship carrying the soldiers to the Pacific theater of the war. But the surprises do not end there, though I think I’ll keep that to myself as I was rather amazed by the transformation that occured next. Meghan Kent has designed period costuming that perfectly captures the era. Behind the scenes rounding out the overall high quality production design are Lighting Designer Wu Chen Khoo, Properties Designer Kenji Shoemaker, and Sound Designer Frederick Kennedy.

Secret Warriors runs through April 19th at History Theatre in St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.historytheatre.com/2024-2025/secret-warriors

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