MANITOWANING—Debajehmujig is continuing its long-standing tradition of bringing international calibre theatre to Manitoulin Island by hosting the major Native Earth theatrical production ‘Huff’ at its Manitowaning Creation Centre.
Huff is described as a “daring solo show by award-winning indigenous play wright Cliff Cardinal, one of the most exciting new voices in Canadian theatre.” Huff is currently on a cross-Canada tour and Debaj is presenting it in partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts of Toronto. The tour had stops in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, North York, Quebec City, Montreal, Kelowna, Victoria and, yes, Manitowaning.
“The show explores some pretty hard hitting issues, including substance abuse,” said Debajehmujig Storytellers Artistic Director Joe Osawabine. Huff is the “wrenching, yet darkly comic tale of Wind and his brothers, caught in a torrent of solvent abuse and struggling to cope with the death of their mother.”
In the 70-minute production, the story is brought to life as “Wind’s fantastic dream world bleeds into his haunting reality, as he’s preyed on by the Trickster through the hallways at school, the abandoned motel he loves more than home, and his own fragile psyche.”
“We are really excited to be able to bring this production to Manitoulin Island,” said Mr. Osawabine, who noted that art can bring remarkable clarity and insight to the issues that are reverberating through First Nations, helping to create some of the building blocks of a real reconciliation between Canada and her first peoples. “Being the only aboriginal arts organization who owns and operates their own facility we feel a responsibility to present the work emerging from the indigenous body of work in Canada today,” he added.
Huff is directed by Karin Randoja and stars Cliff Cardinal. He noted that Cliff Cardinal is the son of famed Canadian actress and member of the Order of Canada Tantoo Cardinal.
“We aren’t currently funded to present this work in any way yet,” said Mr. Osawabine, “but we feel it is important to get this work to our local audiences.”
There will be two performances of Huff, the first on March 3 at 1:30 pm and the second on March 4 at 7:30 pm. Both performances will take place at the Larry E. Lewis Studio at the Debajehmujig Creation Centre in Manitowaning and are $20 for general admission.
