BET ON IT: GTNT’S VEGAS VACATION DELIVERS A JACKPOT OF LAUGHS
Fast-paced, hour-long play has plenty of slapstick, but also takes the time to touch on darker subjects
Hold your cards, we have a winner!
Vegas Vacation: A Rez Christmas Story is a sure bet for laughs.
Penned by Curtis Peeteetuce and first produced in 2006, the seasonal tale returns to Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre under the direction of new artistic director Jennifer Dawn Bishop.
The moment you see Cory Dallas Standing’s energetic, dancing entrance as Zula Merasty, you know you’re in for a good time. He’s mastered the part of the spunky kohkom who has absolutely no filter. Then again, so has Mitchell Poundmaker as Sihkos Sinclair. Allana Dorien is left with the task of dealing with those two, but she acquits herself well as Clare Bear.
In charge of numerous parts is the amazingly versatile Dalton Litefoot playing a flight attendant, waiter and many more characters, even a villain in a wacky fantasy sequence.
The opening plants the seed, in Sihkos’ dream, of a baby in a blanket, something that develops as things proceed. When the trio’s residential school compensation comes in, they decide to go to bingo heaven in Vegas.
The script gingerly touches on the dark times in the childhoods of Zula and Sihkos. It also broaches religion, dredging up much anger and resentment — so it’s got some grit, although the emphasis is very much on comedy.
Bishop gives the fast-paced, hour-long play lots of movement with an abundance of slapstick. Watch out for flying purses! It’s a blast just seeing these three deal with the airport and the plane. It’s amazing that Homeland Security didn’t have to get involved.
Meanwhile, the jokes come faster than the dabber in a speedo bingo round: “This is too much work, let’s just go to Regina;” “The city can’t handle me;” “We’ll even listen to Chester Knight and remember the frisky days.”
Fun and well done, that’s Vegas Vacation.