For the love of all that is offensive, lets give thanks

“The Thanksgiving Play” is nothing short of the perfect comedy, offending everyone possible and making sure the audience leaves with a laugh. 

While the set in the Black Box Theatre is nothing short of amazing, bringing the warmth, you can’t help but remember from your elementary school classroom, the energy is anything but. 

As you walk in and sit down you will be greeted with upbeat background music and bright colored walls and floors, give it ten minutes you will be squirming in your seat. 

This play is tackling some big issues, everything from racism to veganism, sexuality and gender and everything in between.

It is one of those plays that makes you laugh, while looking around to see if everyone else is too. 

We open with yoga and one stressed teacher, from the language you can already tell that the idea of being woke is the punchline of every joke. 

Logan, played by Olivia Freeze, junior of Bridgeport seems to be the star of the show. Logan is a teacher that is about to be fired, hired to put on a play about Thanksgiving for elementary schoolers. 

Logan hires Jaxton, played by Brayden Schuelke, freshman of Rapid City, South Dakota, a street performer as a cheap actor. 

The pair attempt to write a play, that offends no one and is focused on Native American Heritage Month, but as non-natives. 

They are joined by a history professor, Caden, played by Levi O’Dell, senior of Piedmont, South Dakota and aspiring actress Alicia, played by Izzy Ashley, sophomore of Rapid City, South Dakota.

The play is very different from past CSC performances, while there are only four actors each one is so different, I have no doubt you could make a play about each of them. 

In a way there is no box required for the characters in this show, everyone is doing their own thing. The best part of the entire show is that well there really isn’t much for character growth.

Sure we see Logan become more accepting of Alicia as she is and Jaxton is criticized a bit but overall, all characters leave just as they entered. 

We see music stylings that are so unlike other plays, the actors are singing as children would during scene changes. The cast does a great job, doing exactly the opposite of what they would usually do during musical numbers, sing functionally. 

The facial expressions of every actor are beautifully done, they fit the characters well and are not overacted. 

There is something so striking about a play meant to teach you something and that something is nothing. 

Now I do believe that there is a warning at hand, if you can’t handle being uncomfortable then you better be prepared. 

Nothing is safe and no ones is safe. Be prepared to confront things you never thought you would.