"The local population must have been easily confused. As disguise, it's right up there with Clark Kent's glasses"

You might be surprised, Doug.
When I greet people I know at festivals with my face painted in black and silver, I find it remarkable the number of people who don't know it's me- even people who know me well, and even when they hear my voice.
Even when new dancers in our side appear in facepaint for the first time, it can take us a while to recognise them.

Our side decided a while ago to use a mixture of black and silver facepaint (our side's colours) to avoid this problem.
While I HATE the fact that those who use full-face black makeup feel they have to change (as it seems an admission that there was somethinhg wrong with it- when there has never been any racist intent), I agree with what Brian Peters said above:

Who would choose to die in a ditch for blackface?