“In a new production, Jolson & Co – the Musical, to open at the King’s theatre in Edinburgh, the pantomime star Allan Stewart will play Al Jolson. Controversy has erupted as the producers have decided that in a seminal scene he will not black up.” This is a cowardly misstep, as “contemplating Al Jolson without blacking up is like considering Marvin Gaye without sex; if the producers wanted to avoid controversy, they shouldn’t be doing a musical about Al Jolson.”