Prince George residents can revisit a show that was originally offered during Theatre NorthWest's 2017 Presentation Series.
Isitwendam (An Understanding) is returning to the local stage until Feb. 22 after its recent world premiere in Toronto.
The show sees Meegwun Fairbrother, best known as CBC-TV's Burden of Truth star, taking on nine roles during the performance while digital and video elements are used to enhance the presentation.
The piece was created by Fairbrother and Jack Grinhaus, former artistic director of Theatre NorthWest, in direct response to Stephen Harper's 2008 apology to First Nations people for the atrocities experienced at residential schools. Grinhaus, who returned to Toronto with his family after he left his position with Theatre NorthWest about two years ago, is back to direct the play here.
Fairbrother and Grinhaus first met as students attending York University in Ontario and they were friends from the moment they met.
The story follows Brendan White, a half Ojibwe, half Caucasian man as he is hired by Aboriginal Affairs to discredit a residential school survivor's claim and how it affects White personally.
As the show begins its world tour, Grinhaus said it was the Prince George audiences that informed how the story was developed because those first shows presented here in 2017 had Talk Back sessions immediately after the show allowing for audience input, as it still does today.
"Isitwendam means 'an understanding' and so the purpose of the show and bringing in a white director (him) we wanted a white audience to enjoy it without feeling guilted or implicated and that sometimes can be an unfortunate byproduct of a play that talks truth," Grinhaus said. "I know some people might not want to come to see it because they think somehow it will do something that makes them feel judged. But this show doesn't do that at all. In fact it's more of a mystery detective story than it is about residential schools. Reconciliation is the underscore but the through line is about a boy and his father."
Fairbrother gets to mix his favourite art forms of live performance and film work, Grinhaus added.
"It's such an entertaining piece - it's funny, it's heartwarming, it engages people because you're constantly trying to figure out the mystery of the father and the reason it's relatable is because it really is just about a boy and his father," Grinhaus said.
The show is 75 minutes long with no intermission, followed by a talk back with the audience for 15 minutes after the show. For tickets visit www.theatrenorthwest.com.
