Toronto Review: "The Mush Hole" at Young People's Theatre
Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
My goodness, I haven’t been as emotionally connected to a movement piece as much as I was in the opening performance of ‘The Mush Hole’ now onstage at Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre.
Choreographer Santee Smith and the Kaha:wi Dance Theatre present a heart rending performance through theatre and dance exploring the intergenerational impact of Canada’s Residential School system. Through exquisitely fine-tuned dance and movement, I was led on a devastating journey through the Mohawk Technical School in Brantford Ontario and the impact on the children who were sent there between the late 1800s – right up to 1970. The term ‘mush hole’ stems from the watery, pablum like gruel served at each meal for the children.
The sound effect of a drone reverberating through the auditorium jarred my hearing. When I sat down, I stared at the stage in horrific disbelief. There was a comment projected in large font format on the back-wall scrim of the stage from Canada’s first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald about the role of the Indigenous people in Canada. The horrible word ‘Indian’ was used. While calling them ‘savages. Mr. Macdonald felt it was his duty to withdraw children from their families and send them to white schools where they would adopt the way of life of the white person. Utterly horrific. I can’t even begin to comprehend the violation of human life and the atrocity of children torn away from their parents and sent here.
There is the frame of the school with scrims stages left and right. There are wooden school desks in a diamond shape with crucifixes on them and numbers. These numbers meant the children were never addressed with their proper name but only became a number to the adults within the building. Astonishing even to consider this strategy was used.
I was especially intrigued by Adriana Fulop’s clothing design of the performers. We see some costumes from the early 1900s and some 1970s clothing to signify the changing years of the children at this school. Effective video projections on the back scrims underscored the tension of the story told in movement and dance. Some of the voice over work is chilling to the bone to hear. Music selections poignantly enhance the dramatic tension continuously built throughout the 65-minute presentation.
‘The Mush Hole’ is heartbreaking, astonishing and beautiful. Much like we know and remember about the Holocaust and what happened during World War 2, I was brutally reminded of seeing this production that we here in Canada had our own Holocaust. Created, directed and produced with tremendous compassion and care by company performer Santee Smith, her message she left with me was finding hope and light in this very dark time of our Canadian history.
These five performers who varied in age range are bravely daring in telling the story of the survivors from the Mohawk school. Every inch of the stage is used to full effect. There are moments during the performance where my heart bleeds for those who died. Many were tortured and tormented, and these five performers magnificently reveal that terror in their movements and dance on the stage. At one point, there is reference to alcohol abuse which many of the survivors would have turned in their post traumatic stress disorder.
Final Note: For the 2019-2020 season, Young People’s Theatre will explore one of the seven Ancestral teachings (Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth) of the Anishinaabe people. ‘The Mush Hole’ focused primarily on Truth.
At times, ‘The Mush Hole’ is difficult to watch and to hear. There is an addendum to the title of TRUTH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RESILENCE. I needed and forced myself to watch to acknowledge this horrific time in Canadian history and to listen during those uncomfortable moments. I hope and trust further audiences will do the same. It is in listening that we develop further understanding and resilience to ensure these atrocities do not happen ever again.
There were school groups to watch this performance. As a retired schoolteacher, I heartily endorse this production.
Running time: approximately 65 minutes with no intermission. There are Q and A sessions after some performances. Check when they are available.
‘The Mush Hole’ runs to October 25 on the Mainstage at Yong People’s Theatre, 165 Front Street East, Toronto. For further information, please visit www.youngpeoplestheatre.org or call 1-416-862-2222.
Performers: Julianne Blackbird, Jonathan Fisher, Raelyn Metcalfe, Santee Smith, Montana Summers;
Artistic Producer and Director: Santee Smith; Composition/Arrangement: Jesse Zubot; Video Tech/Director: Ryan Webber; Set/Original Lighting Designer: Andy Moro
This production of ‘The Mush Hole’ Truth, Acknowledgement and Resilience and its remount by Kaha:wi Theatre.
Photo courtesy of www.youngpeoplestheatre.org.