MANITOWANING—Debajehmujig Storytellers is returning to the summer mainstage with ‘If I Listened,’ a new production in collaboration with Manifesto Poetico. This production follows on an earlier collaboration with Manifesto Poetico’s trilogy ‘In the Name of Humanity,’ but is a new creation in its own right.
“‘If I listened’ is the journey of a nine-year-old girl named Waawaatesi after the crossing of her Nookomis (grandmother) to the spirit world,” said Samantha Brennan, Debaj graphic artist and one of the actors in the production. “Told in the voice of her older self, she recounts the heroic efforts of her seventeen-year-old Uncle Finn to find her, as well as the story of the fantastical landscapes she passes through with her best friend and heart, Ogichidaa, who appears and disappears with the vivacity of her imagination.”
The production will take place in the Larry E. Lewis Creation Centre at 43 Queen Street in Manitowaning and will feature about half of the original cast from ‘In the Name of Humanity.’
Manifesto Poetico directors Carlos García Estévez from Spain and Paige Allerton
from Ontario will be on hand for some of the early performances.
“Opening night is on Wednesday, July 27,” said Ms. Brennan, noting the production had to be delayed for a week due to continuing impact of the pandemic. The production starts at 7 pm and runs for about an hour. “In order to protect our patrons and artists, masking will be mandatory and nightly seats have been reduced from 70 to 40 to allow distancing.”
Tickets for ‘If I listened’ are $20 for adults and $12 for elders, students and children under seven. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 705-859-1820.
