Skin colour focus of new improv theatre project
Kris Alvarez is hosting ‘dinner-table discussions’ focused on brown skin
When Kris Alvarez meets someone new, she has a “press release” ready to go.
It’s not an on-paper press release, the kind that’s sent out to convey the who-what-whenwhere-why of a news item. It’s a verbal one, a scripted reaction to the various reactions to her brown skin.
“I always call it my press release, when I share what kind of brown I actually am,” said Alvarez, “because it seems to always surface when I meet people, no matter what. Whether it’s on the first meeting or a couple of times after, a new acquaintance will say, ‘You’re so exotic,’ or ‘You’ve got great skin,’ or ‘Where’s your family originally from?’ ”
They never guess correctly. Alvarez’s brownness is the subject of her new improvisational theatre project, What Kind of Brown Are You?, which she’ll present at The Artesian on Friday, Sunday and Monday evenings.
As part of Curtain Razors’ The Moveable Feast program, Alvarez will host three different themed dinner-table discussions relating to race and culture.
The audience will not partake in the meal, but will observe the discussion between Alvarez and her guests.
Her parents will be part of the Sunday performance.
Jim and Susan Alvarez immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in the 1970s. Kris Alvarez was born in Cebu. Her family lived in Toronto before moving to Regina in time for Alvarez to start kindergarten.
She has lived here ever since, with the exception of a decade in Montreal where she met her husband, Eric, and had two daughters, Zoe and Iris.
Though she has Filipino heritage, even fellow Filipinos don’t recognize it, so her “press release” is geared to them, too.
“As soon as I start it, it’s the same script,” said Alvarez. “You’re making a statement that everyone can understand and digest.”
Filipinos usually guess that one of her parents must be white, or lean on the fact that her father’s ancestors came from Spain. This week, a woman suggested she doesn’t look Filipino because “you’ve been here a long time, so your face has changed.”
White people usually guess that Alvarez is Spanish, Mexican or “maybe Indian — from India.”
That qualifier is “always very emphasized that ‘I’m not mistaking you for someone who’s Aboriginal,’ ” because they saw it as a bad thing.
While her performance touches on issues like racism and colonialism, “I didn’t want it to be an issue play or a thing where I’m teaching you,” said Alvarez.
It’s about “experiential learning, that people can learn through laughter and a meal and we can slowly break down a bit more of our biases and our racist tendencies.”
She’ll talk with her guests about food and dating and growing up as a minority.
“I wanted to hear other people’s versions of what I go through, like, ‘Did you go through this in high school? Were you embarrassed about the smells in your house? Did you worry about dating because you were the only brown kid in a class of white people?’ I wanted to say that out loud to other people and ask other brown people and see what they thought.”
Alvarez wonders whether society is changing, noticing skin colour less.
“I’ve talked to a few younger people who go, ‘I don’t think about that,’ or ‘I don’t ask.’ And I do think my kids growing up, that conversation really isn’t there. … It’s an afterthought,” she said.
Friday night’s guests include Risa Payant, Tria Donaldson and Fran Gilboy. Sunday’s include Clara Chung Der and Alvarez’s parents. Monday, expect Jayden Pfeiffer, Jori Cachene and Tiffany Kearse.
What Kind of Brown Are You? is at The Artesian on Friday, Sunday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. Visit curtainrazors.com/themoveablefeast for tickets.
Did you go through this in high school? Were you embarrassed about the smells in your house?