Trans identity explored in Christmas play
- Andréa Ledding | December 15, 2021
A new Christmas play, Fruitcake, by Heather Morrison will be “so meaningful to so many people for so many reasons,” says actor Deneh’Cho Thompson.
He’s excited that his first experience on a Saskatchewan stage will be in the play’s premiere at Persephone Theatre BackStage in Saskatoon this month.
Fruitcake is a holiday comedy that explores the coming out of a young trans character while the whole family deals with the loss of their matriarch and what to do with her 137-year-old fruitcake.
“It really is the classic family Christmas romp: there’s lots of comedy, lots of fights and broken Christmas ornaments...what family show isn’t complete without a crying baby?” Thompson said. “But it really dives into identity, specifically trans identity, in a really meaningful way.”
Thompson, who teaches at the wîcêhtowin Indigenous Theatre Program at the University of Saskatchewan, says it’s great for trans stories with trans bodies to be on a theatre stage.
“Indigenous theatre has gone through that kicking-down doors kind of stage, so speaking for myself and (fellow player) Bruce Sinclair, it’s great as Indigenous artists to go in, not just showcasing Indigenous pain and identity, but supporting other artists in their identity, and the work they have to do.”
Thompson’s character isn’t specifically written as Indigenous, so it’s positive for him and Sinclair to play Indigenous characters without racial identity being the main focus and, instead, supporting the showcasing of a trans story, he said.
“There was a lot of thought about who was in the room. As Indigenous artists we have a particular experience that provides us a context for allyship for our trans compatriots, but it’s really nice to just have an Indigenous body on stage and they don’t have to be Indigenous - they just are. And that kind of representation is really radical still, unfortunately, but hopefully becoming more and more common.”
Thompson said he feels very much at home in the good and bad moments of the play and thinks the audience will relate to this world which is, “very prairies,” from the set itself, to the characters, to the traditions and the stories being told.
“I’m excited about the turkey - but that’s all I can say. And I managed to assemble an entire Christmas tree in less than a scene,” he said, adding that Morrison’s script is amazing and funny while exploring serious themes.
“There is an educational aspect it, so people will be more exposed to trans stories and trans terminology, and what micro-aggressions look like...but they’re also going to have a great time. Fantastic acting, great jokes, and at least one stage fight - and the decor, I think, will speak to a lot of people.”
There are six actors in the cast, who are directed by S.E. Grummett. Fruitcake runs at Persephone Theatre BackStage December 8th to 19th.