“Odoobina’anangoog, that’s a perfect name for you: She Holds Up the Stars”
Misko’s new name on the rez suits her perfectly – arms outstretched towards the heavens, she’s learned more about her heritage in the last few weeks than she has for many years before that. However, the incident that brought her to the rez for the summer in the first place is a harsh reminder of her history: the reality for her own family and for her people. Sandra Laronde’s She Holds Up the Stars has been transformed from a young adult novel to a beautiful staged production with a sweeping score. Written, created, and directed by Laronde with music and sound design by Eliot Britton, She Holds Up the Stars is an event for the whole family to witness together.
Misko hasn’t been back to the reservation where her family is from since she was 6. After her mother went missing, her Aunt took her to live in Winnipeg. She’s nervous about spending the summer on the rez with her Kokum, until she sees her horse. This beautiful being is roaming around the ranch which borders her Kokum’s fence, and she is instantly taken by this horse’s gentleness. Misko later discovers that this horse belongs to Mr. Desjardins, and his son Thomas, who are trying their best to break him. Over the summer, Misko reconnects with old friends, meets new family, and even befriends Thomas. But will they be able to tame this spirited horse? Or will Mr. Desjardins’ cruelty prove too much for all of them to handle?
I had read Laronde’s novel prior to seeing the staged version; I wanted to ensure I had a good handle on the material, but also so that I could fully appreciate how they were going to turn a nearly 200 page novel into a 60 minute play/concert. What Laronde was able to do was to distill her text into its most important elements, without negating major plot points or lessons she’s sewn into her story. All of our favourite characters have been included, while also ensuring that everyone’s histories are being properly told. I wasn’t very far into the novel when I remember thinking to myself “man, I wish I could have read a book like this when I was younger.” For me, I found out about things like residential schools well into adulthood; it’s a jarring awakening and my reckoning with this history continues, but novels like “She Holds Up the Stars” not only provide a space for young people to learn about Indigenous issues, but also includes a character their age (Thomas) having to learn and adjust his thinking in real time. This kind of literature is essential to solidifying our Canadian identity, while also giving our youth a launching point to ask more questions and learn past the lessons of the novel or staged adaptation.
Roy Thomson Hall’s stage was full to the brim with musicians and performers alike for She Holds Up the Stars. Ken Mackenzie’s set prop design used the iconic element of the fence posts, the delineation between the rez and everywhere else, and allowed them to be transformed into everything and anything required for the story. However, the main attraction for this production were the puppets! The puppet of the dog Aniimoosh was expertly puppeteered by Jainee Fernandez, while the young Misko puppet took turns amongst the other talented puppeteers. Their main focus, however, was Mishtadim, the massive horse puppet which is the star of the show. Mishtadim is a walking work of art; a chestnut horse who appears to be made of chestnut wood, he towers over the rest of the performers and I couldn’t help but gasp when he first trotted out on stage. Three pupeteers made Mishtadim come to life: Danya Tietzen (the head), Troy Feldman (the heart), and Brad Cook (the hind). At one point, Julia Davis (the actor portraying Misko) actually gets on and rides Mishtadim, with Feldman and Cook supporting her and this huge puppet. It was truly a stunning sight I won’t soon forget.
Davis leads the cast as Misko, and I thought she brought the beauty and pain of this intriguing character to life perfectly. Marsha Knight plays her Kokum, and I loved how Knight played into Kokum’s quirks and comedy. James Gerus’ Thomas is a conflicted and difficult young man, and I thought Gerus portrayed that well, particularly for a younger audience. Geoffrey Pounsett embodies Mr. Turner, the local store owner, just as I’d imagined him from the book: with a warmth and kindness which come from being a pillar of a small community. Mike Shara’s Mr. Desjardins was similarly well portrayed, with all of the violence and fear which Laronde wrote into the role. Hilary Wheeler’s Shoshana was full of life and energy; Wheeler and Davis had a great sisterly dynamic on stage as well. Kehew Buffalo, Sequoia Cooper, and Grayson Bird were fabulous as Misko’s friends Nelson, Kii, and Nimkii. They portrayed the bravado in the youthfulness of their characters, much to the audience’s delight.
I’m thankful that there’s work like She Holds Up the Stars being shown to today’s young Canadians; the majority of the run at Roy Thomson Hall was school shows, with just two open to the public. This story draws such a strong parallel between the breaking of horses and the breaking of people, both at residential schools and in your average home. My hope is that She Holds Up the Stars can tour Canada, showing young people all over this country the value of learning our full history and having the power to ensure it never happens again.
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Cover Photo: Photos by Jason George.
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