A new Canadian play written by Nlaka’pamux actor and playwright Kevin Loring premieres at the Arts Club next month. Thanks for Giving uses a family’s Thanksgiving dinner to bring to the table themes of colonial history, legacy, and family tension. “I wanted to turn the Thanksgiving dinner on its head and use it as an opportunity to re-examine the narrative of this holiday as it relates to our colonial history,” Loring explains. “I also wanted to explore how that history plays out today on a meta-level through the family dynamics of these characters.”
During this particular Thanksgiving dinner, Nan—a character Loring specifically wrote to be played by Margo Kane—tries to keep the peace. At the centre of the family antics are twins Marie (Tai Amy Grauman) and John (čaačumhi - Aaron M. Wells), whose differences become evident when they both disclose some personal truths. Over dinner, the family members argue about the importance of acknowledging history, while Pa (Tom McBeath) tries to conceal the truth about the sacred grizzly bear he shot. Featuring witty characters, the play effectively balances these serious themes with humour. “It’s kind of like a turkey dinner,” Loring laughs. “There’s a lot on the table.”
The play’s design components are firmly rooted in the setting of the Nlaka’pamux community in Lytton, B.C. Loring invited Set Designer Ted Roberts and Sound Designer James Coomber to Lytton, where Roberts harvested poplar trees to be used in the forested set and Coomber collected traditional song recordings from the early 20th century to be incorporated into the show’s soundscape.
Granville Island Stage
October 5 – November 4, 2017
Mon–Thu at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, Wed at 1:30 pm, and Sat at 2 pm
Tickets from $29 at artsclub.com or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644