Gala's "Artistic" Decision © 1996/2000 ABIP

by Agustín Blázquez with the collaboration of Jaums Sutton

Recently, a gay Cuban told me, "don't pay attention to ‘Strawberry & Chocolate.’ It's propaganda for international consumption. Our situation hasn't changed. We're still oppressed and persecuted. As a gay man I live at the margin of society." His testimony coincides with very carefully worded (fearing Cuban censors) letters received from Cuba and corroborates stories from other sources.

So the play, as well as the film made in Cuba by the regime, is another of Castro's ploys to deceive. It gives the appearance of change, that Castro is now more tolerant of criticism. The reality is that since the dark days of the 1960s dreaded UMAP concentration camps where so many lives were lost or scarred forever, life for gays in Cuba remains a shade of black.

In a free country, GALA Theater can cooperate with the falsehood of Castro's "tolerance." Cuban Americans don't have any quarrel, that's why we choose to live in a democracy. What offends is pretending that it is an artistic vs. political decision. When dealing with Cuba and its ever- present Castro totalitarian regime, politics pervades all. Nothing moves in Cuba without the knowledge and approval of the Maximum Puppeteer.

Politics played a role by importing three Cuban actors as well as in the $17,000 donated by Arca Foundation. For years, Arca has given money to pro-Castro projects (in 1995 granted $680,500 to 23). This indirectly, of course, supports Castro and extends the suffering of his victims, contrary to the wishes of the Cuban people longing for liberation day. GALA should be more sensitive to this fact.

Sherritt International, Inc., the Canadian mining company was also a benefactor for this production. Sherritt appears in the so-called "Congressional Hall of Shame" among a group of 200 unscrupulous companies that profit in property stolen from American citizens.

On July 2, 1996, Consolidated Development Corp. of Delaware sued Sherritt for "conversion of properties and rights and conspiracy to defraud." This infamous Canadian company takes advantage of the near slave conditions of Cuban mine workers and pays Castro dollars for which the workers receive a meager salary in worthless Cuban pesos.

This joint Castro-Canadian venture operates the mines with a complete disregard for the environment launching huge amounts of smoke, soot and ammonia while the flammable poisonous gas hydrogen sulfide steams into the atmosphere. They run other technical wastes to the bay of Moa among others near by, affecting the villages of Moa and Nicaro.

Also involved in an after-the-show "discussion" was the Inter-American Dialogue whose president is a member of GALA's Board of Directors. This political organization actively involved in relations with Castro's illegitimate regime, has been lobbying for the lifting of the US Trade Embargo and against the Helms-Burton law, and of course, in 1995 received $35,000 from Arca.

It appears that this production is a well organized political package deal coordinated with the showing of the Castro-sanctioned film "Strawberry & Chocolate" at the Kennedy Center's American Film Institute at which one of the stars of the film and GALA's play appeared in person. All this was coordinated with a 3/4 page Washington Post article hyping the event four days before the opening and a glowing review that finished saying, "It is too bad the Cuban actors' visas don't allow them to be paid for their performances. They deserve a treasure." This comes from the same Washington Post which is normally silent about Castro's crimes, violations of human rights and ignores protest rallies at the Cuban mission but attends their farewell parties. Go figure.

The likeness of Castro used in GALA Theater's set is as offensive to Cuban victims as Hitler or a swastika is to a Jew. It is time to be more sensitive to the ongoing Cuban tragedy. Sadly, politics appears to be staining the artistic judgement of GALA.

Agustín Blázquez, Producer/Director of the documentaries COVERING CUBA and CUBA: THE PEARL OF THE ANTILLES