43 pages • 1 hour read
Larissa FasthorseA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse is a satirical comedy set in a high school classroom where drama teacher Logan, attempting to create a politically correct Thanksgiving play, involves her boyfriend Jaxton, elementary history teacher Caden, and actress Alicia, who all turn out to be white, leading to farcical efforts to craft a narrative that respects Indigenous perspectives without any Indigenous input. The play contains extensive discussions of anti-Indigenous racism and the genocide of Indigenous Americans and features an episode of anti-Indigenous mock violence and suicide.
Larissa Fasthorse's The Thanksgiving Play is lauded for its sharp wit and incisive critique of performative allyship in theater. Critics appreciate its clever script and the nuanced way it tackles sensitive themes. However, some feel the humor sometimes undercuts the gravity of the issues. Overall, it's praised for its boldness and originality.
Readers who appreciate satirical comedy with a critical edge will enjoy The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse. Fans of works like David Mamet's Race and Tracy Letts' August: Osage County will find Fasthorse's sharp wit and exploration of cultural sensitivities engaging and thought-provoking.
Recommended
Realistic Fiction
Play: Comedy / Satire
Humor
Holidays & Occasions
Education
Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Identity: Indigenous
Identity: Race