(Montreal) A highly controversial children’s puppet show continues to be performed in the Montreal area in February.
Posted at 12:12 p.m
Jacob Serebrin The Canadian Press
Several black organizations have criticized the play – The Incredible Secret of a Black Beard – because the puppet used by the artist reminded them of past shows performed by white actors who blacked out their faces.
This criticism surprised the show’s author, storyteller Franck Sylvestre, a black man. He defends himself by saying that the controversial doll is a caricature of himself. According to him, her critics would not have judged her as racist if they had seen the show.
The play was written in 2009. It is aimed at children aged five to nine years. Mr Sylvestre says he never received a complaint about him until February.
Max Stanley Bazin, president of the Black Coalition of Quebec, believes Mr Sylvestre should instead listen to members of the community who are concerned about the play and want the doll to change its appearance.
Mr Sylvestre will begin a series of shows at Laval on Sunday. He then has to fly away for a tour in France. The play is performed there at least 30 times.