A wild horse brings two cultures together in Mistatim

A wild horse brings two cultures together in Mistatim

 

Young People’s Theatre in Toronto will present Mistatim, a story of reconciliation and friendship, by award-winning playwright Erin Shields, based on a concept by Sandra Laronde of Red Sky Performance. Red Sky is one of the leading Indigenous companies in Canada offering Aboriginal stories in dance, theatre and music.

Photo: L-R: Carlos Rivera, Sera-Lys McArthur, and Brendan McMurtry-Howlett

Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

 

Mistatim– the Cree word for horse–will be presented from Feb. 9 to Feb. 19. It is a story about the taming of a wild horse and the forging of friendships. Mistatim is recommended for children ages six and up. The story combines dance, theatre, mask and music.

“Under a prairie sky, only a simple wooden fence separates Calvin on his ranch and Speck on her reserve, but in many ways they are worlds apart,” reads a press release. “On his father's ranch, Calvin attempts to 'break' Mistatim, a horse no one else can tame, in order to prove himself to his father. On the other side of the fence, Speck, who is also struggling with her place in her family, discovers her uncanny ability to talk to horses. Working together to build a relationship with the wild horse, Calvin and Speck cross the divide of their own cultures, learning to communicate with their families, the free-spirited Mistatim, and each other.”

A Youtube clip can give readers a feel for the show that will be presented https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpebAqHgn1A

Young People’s Theatre is located at 165 Front Street East in Toronto. Call the Box Office at 416-862-2222 for dates and times of performances.