A review of “The Thanksgiving Play”

Western Theatre Company (WTC) has done it again. 

On Oct. 22, WTC kicked off its two-week run of “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse. Though not a full house, the show was well attended.

“The Thanksgiving Play” is a contemporary satire about four “terminally woke” white people—Logan, Jaxton, Caden, and Alicia—creating a Thanksgiving play without Native representation. The show, directed by Heather Hughes, is hysterical and wildly uncomfortable at the same time, forcing the audience to look into their intentions and beliefs.

The setting is simple and clean, but throughout, the play begins to represent the madness that the characters fall into. The props, choreography, and costumes get crazier by the minute and the audience can’t help but stare slack-jawed at what they’re experiencing.

The four-person main cast consists of Brian Kerrigan as Jaxton, Lindsey Trenkle as Logan, River Cosgrove as Caden, and Skylah Inman as Alicia. The comfortability, chemistry, and dedication of the cast stand out throughout the entire show.

The show serves as Kerrigan’s senior capstone project, and it is evident that his whole heart was put into the production. Kerrigan’s Jaxton is almost too convincing. He is fully immersed in the absurdity and toxic masculinity of Jaxton and the audience might forget that he’s acting. 

The same can be said about Cosgrove’s Caden. Cosgrove implements an endearing quality to an otherwise awkward and nerdy character. They are hard to miss on stage, always in character and getting a laugh from the audience.

Trenkle’s Logan is a PTA committee’s worst nightmare. Though Logan means well, it doesn’t come across in her actions. Trenkle’s Logan is incredibly complex, as she is confident in what she believes in, but her face never really shows it. Trenkle’s acting is subtle, but also very powerful.

Inman, who is “not a theatre major but probably acts like one,” is hilarious and thought provoking as Alicia. Alicia is simple, and Inman portrays her as such, but in a way that maybe isn’t so simple. Inman’s confidence and dedication to Alicia is what makes her unforgettable. 

The ensemble cast of students, made up of Mack Brands, Shawn McAllister, Caden Nimmo, and Nina Smith, with Cindy Petito as their teacher, do an amazing job in their roles. They are frighteningly good at portraying students who were given bad material and don’t know any better. Smith’s preschooler is particularly incredible.

“The Thanksgiving Play” runs Oct. 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Western’s Studio Theatre. See it while you can; the show is more than worth the $10 admission fee.