Don't Feed the Indians
About the show
La MaMa's Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective presents this raucous play and political satire loosely based on Dante's 'Divine Comedy.' More…
Watch out when Indian show business meets the Doctrine of Discovery! A comedic Native-Aesthetic look at the marginalization of indigenous peoples and the appropriation of indigenous cultural and intellectual property. See what happens when the Indians push back.
"There are also some lovely traditional Native American songs, sung boldly and movingly by the entire cast, in honor of their fallen elder...I was ready for a production that excoriated and lamented, wailed and wallowed. But I wasn’t expecting a light-hearted comedy. Why wasn’t I? Getting people to ask those types of questions is one of the positive qualities of this play." Full Review
“A bold, honest, thought-provoking piece of work...A parody, a political statement, and a heartfelt personal exploration...'Don’t Feed the Indians' could stand to be tightened up. It does drag at times...but there are plenty of captivating stretches and an abundance of ideas to discuss upon leaving the venue. The strength of this production is in its heart and its plea for the success of humaneness in humanity. The conversation is uncomfortable, and you should join it.” Full Review
"Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective Projects’ 'Divine Comedy Pageant' embraces the Broadway and Tin Pan Alley versions of aboriginal lives—without much outrage...The script doesn’t find appropriation offensive or the stereotypes less than comic. In fact, the pageant seems to want to learn from musical comedy...Show business may be being used to buffer painful issues in the Native American community—and, thankfully, Sainte-Marie is still out there." Full Review
"Unfortunately, the show merely brushes the surface of the many complex topics threaded through the dialogue...Lampooning the inequities of Native Americans without trying to explain the history more thoroughly is a missed opportunity. Even the videos have no captions so the audience does not recognize what they're seeing...Borst-Tarrant shines as the drily humorous centerpiece of the play's show...Many of the skits in 'Don't Feed' simply don't work." Full Review
See it if you want a very clear message about the treatment of indigenous peoples in the US.
Don't see it if you're looking for a nuanced argument or an inclusive environment (if you have no relation to indigenous peoples).
See it if open to new dialog
Don't see it if closed minded and not ready to discuss
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