"Everything about the tour was first-rate" While the story was very appropriate for elementary students, there was no doubt that secondary students enjoyed and learned from the play, judging from their silent attentiveness during the show, their questions after the performance and the thunderous applause which you received. Your ability to adapt to these different audiences was one of the many strong points of the tour." -School District #52(Prince Rupert, BC)
"Congratulations on a job well done and we look forward to working with your company in the future" -First Peoples Cultural Foundation
"Thank you for your most professional production of How Turtle Set the Animals Free. Our staff and students appreciated you talent, time and energy!" -Dr. Knox Middle School
The Eagle, Muskrat and Turtle were almost done in by an Otter on Thursday, but the show went on as the Sen'klip Native Theatre Company charmed a small but appreciative crowd of just over 100 people at the Performing Arts Centre. In a show that lasted roughly an hour, the three cast members dramatized the story of How Turtle Set the Animals Free, set in a time "before man walked the Earth." But, they almost didn't get to because choppy waters in Port Simpson almost stranded their set and costumes there after an afternoon performance.
"There were whitecaps and they couldn't take off," explained Sen'klip veteran Richard Kenoras. I was almost ready to do a one-man show in plain clothing!" The actors themselves were almost stranded in the afternoon but made it back, followed by their set and costumes about 90 minutes before last night's show. Those who attended the show were no doubt thankful they did make it, as they were treated to a wonderful performance.
The story was about an arrogant, cheeky eagle, played by Kenoras, who, by virtue of having won races with the other animals, has won their tails as prizes and services as slaves. The story starts with Eagle tricking Fox and taking his lovely tail, seemingly leaving no one left to challenge him. But, after much convincing by Muskrat, Turtle has a dream that tells her she must challenge Eagle to free the animals from him. Eagle at first laughs and scoffs at the idea but then. spying Muskrat's unique whip-like tail, accepts the challenge if his victory would win both of their tails. To top it off, Turtle chooses the air as the race venue!
Now it is Eagle's turn to be tricked, though, as Turtle asks for a lift into the sky and then tells Eagle to drop her, with the race winner being whoever reaches the ground first. Afraid to hit the ground, Eagle pulls up at the last instant and Turtle, surviving the fall, wins the animals' freedom and tails back.
Playing both Fox and Muskrat roles was Vanessa Mitchell, while Richard's wife. Verna Kenoras, played Turtle. All three were superb, particularly Richard, whose rich laugh and haughty manner made for an appealingly pompous Eagle. he young Mitchell won our hearts as the sweet and persistent muskrat, who was so fearful of losing her wonderful tail. She also told the story magnificently, her face alternately conveying worry and bewilderment.
Indeed, all three proved good storytellers, taking turns at appropriate moments to narrate. And they opened by having Richard set the story up in their native tongue of Okanagan, being interpreted by his wife and Mitchell.
A simple yet colorful set of backdrop illustrations on canvas, a fur-covered perch for Eagle and a straw hut for Turtle, nicely complemented their brilliant costumes. The three performed 10 shows in all, for local schools and the villages of Kitkatla, Hartley Bay and Port Simpson, since arriving here Monday. They perform as many as 200 shows a year.
Sen'klip was formed in 1987 and is an Okanagan company through and through, with every aspect, from writing to acting to set construction, done by Okanagan people.
Mitchell, 20, has been with Sen'klip since she was 17, when she joined the group's youth program. The program teaches the-kids a variety of traditional skills, including basket weaving, hide tanning, root digging, making rope out of hemp; and, of course, their language.
"My parents don't know the language, so I've started learning all about my culture and what it meant," said Mitchell of why she joined the group. "Sen'klip opened my eyes. I started to learn what my parents had lost. I realized who I am."
Richard has been with Sen'klip for over five years. Verna was with him early but also spent much of her time at home raising their two children, only returning in the last year.
Richard sees Sen'klip Theatre as a duty. "This is what was passed on to me by my elders," he said. "It's my time to do what my grandfather and father did. If I can pass it on, I'll have completed my job."
A regular theme in the stories they perform, and in most of the old tales, is there is a moral. The "villain" isn't usually vanquished at the end. Instead, he learns a lesson and becomes better for, it; in this case, the eagle learned humility and respect for others. There are a lot of teachings in each story. They are based on morals and have a lot to do with life and prayers," explained Verna, whose Turtle character prayed to the water for help. "There is nothing more powerful than water. That's what the story is about too ... water is very important."
There were many Friendship House elders on hand for Thursday's show, seated in the front row, and the trio made a point of meeting them and shaking their hands at the end of the program. "I could see the elders enjoyed it." said Richard. "It brought them back. I just hope and pray our children carry it on and, one day, we'll be watching them."
" Paul McGrath photo, North Shore News