Men on Boats is another brilliant example of what makes Ten Thousand Things (TTT) one of the best theater companies in the state of MN. This company is the epitome of creativity and performance-centered theater. They perform in the round with all the lights up, and they rely on the actors to create most of the world in which the shows take place, using minimal set pieces and props so that everything they need can fit in a U-Haul trailer. This allows them to travel with their shows, making theater available to all. They go everywhere from senior living homes to recovery centers and correctional facilities. As entertaining and creative as anything else you’ll see on any stage, their minimalist approach is never a shortcoming.
Men on Boats tells the story of an 1869 expedition by ten men down the Green and Colorado Rivers from Wyoming to Big Canyon (now known as the Grand Canyon). In a world that wants to whitewash our theaters, TTT offers up a diverse cast telling the story of white men naming things after themselves and claiming to discover places Indigenous people were already aware of and, in most cases, had already named. The cast of ten is made up entirely of female and non–cisgender male performers, which I believe is a stipulation of the script.
In one sense, this tells the adventurous story of intrepid explorers battling nature in a desperate attempt to survive… in order to name shit after themselves. There is commentary within the play, but it is this unique casting that really brings lines that could be played straight into sharper focus. The commentary on Manifest Destiny and the toxic masculinity that fueled it comes in part from the gender profile of the cast and their clear understanding of how to play up the characters’ unquestioning belief in their superiority and their unflinching stupidity in the face of reality. It speaks to how far we have regressed as a country, as much of it feels like commentary on our current leaders.
It takes creativity to transport an audience to four boats battling their way through the rocks and rapids of wild rivers in the late 1800s with only a few props, costumes, the actors themselves, and music composed and performed live by Walken Schweigert. The show is directed by Stages of MN favorite Joy Dolo. The cast is so strong that I cannot single anyone out as a favorite. That’s the thing with TTT, performance is so crucial that they invariably cast their shows with the best of the best. Even their understudies, Em Adam Rosenberg and Michelle De Joya, whom you would be lucky to see step in, are fantastic. Rather than attempt to detail how great they each are individually, I’m opting simply to list the cast. Trust me, there is no weakest link.
The cast: Jay Owen Eisenberg, Charli Fool Bear, Ashawnti Sakina Ford, Emjoy Gavino, George Keller, Elise Langer, Anya Naylor, Adelin Phelps, Maureen Sherman-Mendez, and Karen Wiese-Thompson.
Men on Boats runs through March 15. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to https://tenthousandthings.org/
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