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February 27, 2006
Denmark: Theatre To Satirize Islamic Cartoon Drama
The man pictured at left is Flemming Jensen, a Danish playwright. According to today's Turkish Daily News, he is currently preparing a play, which will be performed on stage in Copenhagen in September.
The controversial cartoon images of the so-called Prophet Mohammed, initially published without fuss nor ceremony in leading Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten in September last year have led to riots and deaths in the Islamic world. The furore only began after a delegation of Islamist clerics from Denmark went on a mission to petition Middle Eastern leaders, also adding three fake images to incite a negative reaction.
Flemming Jensen's play is going to use humour to make its point. "What interests us is to shed light on the controversy surrounding these cartoons. Humor is the only weapon to deal with such a serious problem," he claimed.
Though the play will not feature the original depictions of Mohammed, Jenssen said "But we aren't going to censor ourselves and we aren't afraid."
Jenssen is used to handling controversial subject matter. Last year he staged a musical about the US invasion/liberation of Iraq, entitled "Let's Kick Ass", which was a commercial success.
Jenssen's take on the cartoon affair will be based on a re-adaptation of a play called "King of Hearts" by UK playwright Alistair Beaton, which concerns the "clash of civilisations". In true British style, Beaton is shitting himself about Muslim reactions. Jenssen says that Beaton, who admits his fear, insists on seeing all that Jenssen writes.
Jenssen states that the conflict over the cartoon issue needs to be addressed, but it will not be biased in favour of either side.
The play will be staged on September 21 at the Noerrebro Theatre in Copenhagen.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at February 27, 2006 5:54 PM
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