Check Out a Hilarious and Sharply Witted Satire of an American Tradition That Might Not Be What You Think in ‘The Thanksgiving Play’ this coming Weekend

Island Theatre presents “The Thanksgiving Play,” a ‘comedy within a satire’ about well-meaning white people attempting to create a politically correct elementary school play about the first Thanksgiving without involving Native Americans.

What could go wrong?

“The Thanksgiving Play” is directed by Fred Saas and features Kylie Cordero, Todd Erler, Kate
Henderson, Jackie O’Brien, and Steve Stolee.

Performances take place at the Bainbridge Public Library on Saturday, October 25 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, October 26 at 3:00 pm. No reservations are necessary. The play is recommended for high school age and up. Donations are appreciated as they enable Island Theatre to stage these productions.

In “The Thanksgiving Play” written by MacArthur Genius Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota), four earnest white progressives have assigned themselves an impossible task: creating a play for children that accurately and respectfully celebrates Native American Heritage Month and “breaks down the myths and stereotypes of (a traditional) Thanksgiving”  – all done in 45 minutes.

The yoga-practicing, privilege-checking, farmers-market-shopping characters know that performing Native characters in red face is wrong, that the Thanksgiving narrative is “problematic,” and that the history of the United States is one of oppression and subjugation, but they’re blind to the arrogance of their enterprise.

As the content of the play skewers white, well-meaning liberals for being so focused on not giving offense that they can’t do anything meaningful at all, “The Thanksgiving Play” becomes bitingly funny and closer to the truth than we like to admit.

FastHorse wrote the play in response to the notion that her works couldn’t be produced because of a perceived difficulty in finding Native American actors. To circumvent this limitation, she created a play that tackles Native American issues without relying on Native American actors. She offers this to her white audiences: “(this play) was created with you in mind. I hope you have a great night at the theatre but also, perhaps, learn something. I want you to leave with more questions than you knew you had to ask.”

What Critics Have Said

“The Thanksgiving Play” premiered on Broadway in 2023. “The familiar, whitewashed story of Pilgrims and Native Americans chowing down together gets a delicious roasting from expert farceurs.” – The New York Times

“Very, very funny. Larissa FastHorse’s “The Thanksgiving Play” skewers liberal pretensions with
glee.” – Hollywood Reporter

“A razor-sharp spoof of progressive pretense that shows how people can convince themselves that
they are doing good by doing nothing at all…” – The Oregonian

“THE THANKSGIVING PLAY” By Larissa FastHorse
Saturday, October 25 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 @ 3:00 p.m.
Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave. N.

About Island Theatre. Island Theatre provides high-quality theater in intimate settings for adults who like to think. Our regular schedule includes Island Theatre at the Library (staged play readings at the Bainbridge Public Library); Island Theatre at Your House (YoHo) (potluck play-readings in private homes at which guests are welcome to read a part); and the annual Island Theatre Ten- Minute Play Festival. Run entirely by volunteers, Island Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by donations, and grants from the Bainbridge Community Foundation, the City of Bainbridge Island Cultural Fund, the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, and One Call for All. More information is at www.IslandTheatre.org.

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