Holiday play delivers gambling message

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Cross-Cultural Families of Native Children was host to an unusual, loose adaptation by the Free Spirit Theatre Troupe of Charles Dickens' popular A Christmas Carol story. A dozen vibrant youth put on the play about gambling. Aptly titled A Nechi Christmas Carol, the performance was held the evening of Dec. 18 at the Progressive Academy.

In a poor neighbourhood, Kukoom Greedy manages a bingo hall. People keep coming to gamble in hopes to win a lump of money, but Kukoom seems to be the only one winning and she never shares. With Christmas coming, people's needs and frustration grow. Children sing on the streets to earn some change.

One night, three apparitions visit Kukoom in her sleep. The Spirit of Many Moons Ago is the spirit of the past. It tells Kukoom how addictions can seize a person's mind.

The Dancing Spirit of Reality is the spirit of the present and it shows how Kukoom's employees' families suffer without the money she owes them.

The Bingo Orphan is the spirit of the future. It shows the suffering of a gambler's daughter, who is neglected by her addicted mother. The mother commits suicide because she can't handle her life.

When Kukoom wakes, she feels happy to be alive. She decides to pay her employees and to help everyone she can. Everyone ends up having a nice Christmas dinner and presents, thanks to Kukoom's changed personality.

The play was put together by Janice Croome, leader of the troupe, and Gerry Potter, the troupe's theatre instructor. But everyone in the group contributed to the play's content, Croome said.

The script is a changed version of the original A Christmas Carol with the main character Scrooge, said Croome. The word "nechi" means "friend"; it was added in the name to make it sound more Native, she said.

"We wanted to deal with real issues that can have an impact on children and families. So we tried to use a real life situation like bingo. Many Native people go to bingo," she said.

"After the spirits' visit, Kukoom decided to change, to become a better person, to be generous. She realized there is more to life than money," Croome said.

The performers seemed a little hesitant and confused at times. But with their eyes gleaming excitedly, they made the play happen. "They get expressive, overcome shyness, boost their self-esteem and feel so good about what they've done," said Croome.

Half the proceeds from the eight dollar admission price will go to the Youth Emergency Shelter Society of Edmonton; the other half will go towards the troupe's expenses.

The troupe consists of about 20 mostly Aboriginal youth aged 10 to 29.

Croome, who is a youth facilitator with the Oskaya Family Society, and Johnathan Jagt, the society's program co-ordinator, lead the group in rehearsals twice a week at the Canadian Friendship Centre and at the Progressive Academy.

"We actively promote the culture, do smudging ceremonies, take kids to sweats and to workshops in the community," said Jagt. Anyone can join the troupe. Youth don't have to be Aboriginal, he added.

The troupe was created three years ago by Jagt, Russell Auger and Adrian LaChance, all employees of the society. The society provides professional services to Aboriginal youth and families. Its other programs include a youth work program for children who have child welfare status and a cultural group, which is about life skills and cultural teachings with Elders, said Jagt.

For this holiday performance, the society also invited singers like hip-hop group Won - 18, Sheldon Hughes, Doug Bedard and Danessa Potts.

The troupe plans to showcase their next play in May.