Almost 20 years ago I joined an REI guided hiking trip in Northern Alaska. The trip began in Fairbanks and ended on the Arctic Ocean. We would drive North a few hundred miles, then stop, pitch our tents, and go hiking, repeating the cycle until we ran out of road. In addition to being immersed in nature, we also got to meet some locals, including a visit (via small airplane) to an Iñupiaq village. Northern Alaksa is a harsh place, but incredibly beautiful, and the people who live there are a hearty bunch, especially those who have lived there for countless generations. New Native Theatre's new play
The Bird Blind tells the story of one such family living in a small village in Alaska. It's funny and sad, tragic and hopeful. Our Native communities are disproportionately plagued with alcoholism and violence due to a multitude of reasons dating back a few centuries, and this play does not shy away from that. But these sorts of family dynamics and difficulties, as well as the sense of community, are resonant through all communities.
The Bird Blind officially opens this Friday and runs through May 10 at 825 Arts on University in St. Paul. It's a gripping story that's hard to watch at times, but rewarding as you get to know and love these characters and their community.
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Spruce (Frank Katasse) and Tim (River Lane)
in the bird blind (photo by Rhiana Yazzie) |
The play opens with Spruce sitting in the titular bird blind, cursing God for his bad luck at hunting geese, and in life. His luck changes when a young boy named Tim comes into his bird blind, and into his life, running away from an abusive home. Dad Nak drinks too much and is abusive towards mom Ellen, who finally decides to leave. She heads to Anchorage to look for a job, hoping to send for Tim when she's settled, and becomes closer to village resident Jason who's going to college in Anchorage. This angers Nak, despite the fact that he's had multiple affairs, and doesn't really seem to like Ellen much. Nak is also jealous of Tim's relationship with Spruce, somewhere between friend and the father figure he desperately needs, and threatens to reveal some darkness in Spruce's past if he doesn't stop spending time with Tim, just when he's started to get his life together. Tim feels like everyone has left him, which leads to a desperate situation. You could just feel the impending tragedy throughout the play, and when it arrives, it's devastating. But the community is resilient, and finds healing and strength in their relationships.
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Tim (River Lane) with his dad Nak (Mato Wayuhi)
(photo by Rhiana Yazzie) |
Founding Artistic Director Rhiana Yazzie found this play, written by Alaska Native Kira Apaachuaq Eckenweiler, at a Native American playwrighting lab, and brought it to New Native for the world premiere production. She's assembled a great cast of local and national talent. Frank Katasse, also an Alaska Native, is the heart and soul of the story as Spruce, down on his luck and self-deprecating, but so endearing due to the tender heart he wears on his sleeve. In many ways this is Tim's story, he connects all the characters together, and local actor River Lane is up to the task, really charming and present and childlike. Mato Wayuhi (last seen in
New Native's Christmas in Ochopee) is so good at being the abusive alcoholic Nak that I detested him for three-quarters of the play, until he too showed an inner pain that perhaps explained (although not excused) his behavior. In contrast, NYC-based Iñupiaq actor Susanna Lowndes is sympathetic from the beginning as Ellen, the young mom who's just trying to do right by her child, even if that means making some difficult choices. Rounding out the cast is local actor Nathaniel TwoBears as good guy Jason, representing a way out.
The set cleverly depicts both the beauty of Alaska and the harsh living environment of these characters. Four panels depict gorgeous mountains, with beautiful lighting that changes with the time of day. Three of the panels rotate to reveal sets - the bird blind, a living room and kitchen, all with detailed and specific props. Characters are dressed in casual clothes, appropriate for the weather and lifestyle, with some lovely Native elements for Ellen. (Set design by Evan Crain, lighting design by Dylan Zeilinger-Johnson, sound design by Juleana Enright, costume design by Lucia Callender.)
The Bird Blind is, like Northern Alaska, both harsh and beautiful. I was swept up in these very specific characters' stories from the beginning, and wanted things to go well for them. The ending isn't without hope, as the characters form new connections, and Ellen finds work helping her community to heal and connect with its history. It's an impressive debut from the playwright, beautifully brought to life by the team at New Native Theatre.
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| my visit to an Iñupiaq village in August, 2007 |
