P.K. Subban blackface portrayal denounced by Montreal artists

A group of Montreal artists has signed an open letter criticizing the use of blackface in theatre following the recent portrayal of P.K. Subban in a local production.

• P.K. Subban blackface in Thtre du Rideau Vert play deemed offensive by some
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Last month, a white actor in the Thtre du Rideau Verts annual year-end production had his face painted black to portray the famous Canadiensdefenceman.

Quincy Armorer, artistic director at the Black Theatre Workshop, is among those who signed the letter to Thtre du Rideau Vert.

I think its not so much about pointing fingers at any particular organization or person who is doing it.I think were just calling for the importance of a discussion, and why the practice is outdated and really needs to stop, Armorer toldCBC Radio'sDaybreak Montreal.

People have a choice to use this practice that is rooted in racism, or they have a choice to not use it.

The letter was prepared by the arts group Diversit Artistique Montral and signed by both francophone and anglophone artists and theatre groups, including:

• The Quebec Drama Federation.
• Centaur Theatre.
• The Segal Centre.

ThtreduRideauVertcould not be reached by CBC for comment, but artistic director DeniseFiliatraulttold Montreal'sLaPressenewspaper that the portrayal ofSubbanwasnt blackface.

Filiatraultsaid she was shocked, outraged, and humiliated by the reaction.The 83-year-old said she has been in the business for 60 years and was the first person to hire a blackQuebeceron television.

"There will not be any more black characters. It's over," Filiatrault said.

"Either people do not have a sense of humour, or I am too old."

She said didn't hire a black actor to playSubbanfor 12 seconds in her year-end show because her theatre couldn'tafford it.

In response, Armorer told CBC, The problem with that for me is, why if you hire a black actor, thats the only thing he can do, is play P.K. Subban? Why cant you use that black actor in any of the other skits in your two-hour show?

• Analysis: The problem with blackface

Pat Donnelly,longtime theatre critic for the Gazette, said recently that Quebec theatre is notorious for casting white people inroles for people who are not Caucasian.

"This is nothing new in Quebec theatre. Its been going on as long as Ive been a theatre critic, which is 30 years," Donnelly said.

Sophie Durocher, a columnist with Le Journal de Montral, disagreed with the criticism of ThtreduRideauVert.

She said the portrayal of Subbanwasn't blackface.

"Blackface is derogatory against people of colour, and ridicule and humiliation is at the core of blackface," she told CBC's Radio Noon Montreal.

"How can that apply to a theatre that does a year-end review, and in that review, talks about P.K. Subban, who was awarded a contract of $8 million a year? How is that ridiculing black people or humiliating for black people? This, I really think, is at the core of the discussion."