By: Lim Chan

On Friday, Nov. 14, at the Whitney Fine Arts Theater, Metropolitan State University students, along with the Minneapolis community, were treated to an admission-free play: “The Thanksgiving Play”, presented by Metro State Theater. I had the honor of being in the audience for its very first production, and I was captivated by the performance.

Before the play began, the audience was greeted by a well-synchronized vignette that reminded me of my own school days. When I was six, I played a turkey in a school play, and this opening scene brought back fond childhood memories. My mind drifted back to those moments until the actual play began.

As expected, the play centered on Thanksgiving. Like many Thanksgiving plays, it mentioned the holiday’s origins and noted that those origins have gradually faded from focus, giving way to modern traditions centered on family gatherings. Having attended Thanksgiving plays for years, I’ve noticed this recurring theme. What I appreciated here was that the director did not impose a heavy-handed view of Thanksgiving. Instead, the story of the pilgrims and Native Americans was touched upon lightly, which felt refreshing.

The performances were convincing and emotionally engaging. I especially admired the intensity of Logan, who was afraid of losing the grant and ultimately her job. Alicia’s simplicity was portrayed beautifully, as she embraced who she was and found happiness in it. Jaxton played the role of a laid-back yoga enthusiast without overdoing it, while Caden served as the glue that held all the characters together. I truly enjoyed the play, though I found it a little long. My perspective may have been influenced by the lack of an intermission and the fact that I had worked eight hours before attending.

The set was well designed and supported the mood and story. The costumes were excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the turkey costumes, which reminded me that Thanksgiving was just around the corner.

The audience was fully captivated by the performance. We laughed at the punchlines and offered our loudest applause between scenes.

In conclusion, the play worked wonderfully. The characters were well cast and delivered convincing performances with full engagement. This play is definitely worth seeing—especially if you’re a fan of comedy, a history buff, or simply ready to embrace the cheerful holiday spirit.