The Canterlot Minstrel Show

The curtains closed and fanfare followed, signifying that the play had ended. And while the audience in near unison sighed in relief the curtains drew back and the entire cast composed solely of unicorns was lined up on stage, bowing as though they were proud of their performance. As they continued to bow, a solitary unicorn who was recognizably out of place among the performers as he was clad in a suit, tie, and a floppy hat that is commonly called a beret, stood tall on the middle of the stage and took a bow and then began to speak to the audience.

“I thank you all for appearing here tonight. I am the author of The Canterlot Minstrel Show, and I apologize if any of you in the audience were shocked or disheartened by this play, and I must implore that no offense is intended. The play is fictional and all the characters portrayed, aside from Princess Celestia, were also untrue in nature and used only to aid in conveying the message.”

One of the Canterlot residents who had appeared at the play spoke up at this. “Wasn’t the message that unicorns are superior?”

The author loosened his tie and began to perspire out of nervousness. “Well, actually that’s the exact opposite of what I was attempting to declare with this play. What the play actually is meant to say is that all ponies are equal, and that we all have our flaws. It’s meant to be a statement against racism, not for.”

The audience appeared quizzical compelling one of its members to voice concern. “Pardon me sir, but what is racism?”

With renewed pride, the orator author answered. “Ah, racism is the belief that some ponies are better or worse based on silly things like color, appendages, and ability with magic.”

“Sir, you are clearly intelligent so shouldn’t the fact that we don’t even have a word for this phenomenon mean that this ‘racism’ is not quite widespread?”

“Well . . . Um. . . I believe” But before the author could finish his sentence he was swiftly cut off by a balled up piece of used paper, followed by several others causing the actors and author to flee from this assault.

Twilight Sparkle finally stood from her seat and exclaimed in joviality “Yes!” holding the corrected pamphlet high. The punctuation was perfected, the structure was sublime, and the language was so compelling so as to make even the most ignorant of pedestrians feel the need to see the play. But her joy was cut short as one of the irate audience members stole the pamphlet, balled it up, and joined in the barrage with his peers. Naturally this combined turn of events shocked the purple princess, all the more so when her taller peer stood and gestured for them both to leave in quite a hurry.

Now outside, the two caught their breath as the rest of those who have seen the play filed out of the theatre in droves. The royal duo walked down the street, the air calming down the further they managed to get away from the vicinity of the disaster.

“Did I miss something? I thought the play was going rather well.” Twilight said, looking up at Celestia.

“Well aside from the ending where evidently I appeared on stage to save the protagonists, I don’t think you missed much.”

“Ah, a deus ex machina? I suppose I can understand where they come from; I myself detest that in just about any story.”

Princess Celestia smiled gingerly as the two continued on their way back to the castle, perhaps never again to pay mind to the shortly lived but immortally infamous Canterlot Minstrel Show.