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Dust Eaters
By Julie Jensen
At Lincoln Square Theatre
4754 N. Leavitt
Chicago, IL
Call 773-275-7930, www.lincolnsquareartscenter.com
Tickets $15 ($10 students & seniors)
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 6 pm
Saturday matinee at 3 pm Sept 20
Running time is 2 hours with intermission
Through September 28, 2008
Mormon-Goshute Indian relationship dramatized in “Dust Eaters”
Kudoes to Lincoln Square theatre for mounting Julie Jensen’s “Dust Eaters.”The play depicts four generations from one Mormon family and descendants of one Goshute Indian squaw. We meet Albertine (the terrific Sarah Antrim-Cambium), the young Indian ward of a Wesley (Robert Dennsion) and Emma (Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates) a pioneering Mormon family in the desert of Utah in the 1870’s. We see the arrogant and condescending Mormon attitude toward the desert Indians. They are little more than animals or beasts of burden to the Mormons. Albertine is an independent spirit steeped in the traditions and myths of Goshute Indians.
Given the choice, even after being totally assimilated into Mormon life, Albertine and her offspring, always chose freedom and the Goshute beliefs. The cruelty and demanding almost slave like role the Mormon family demands of Albertine and members of her tribe offers Indians the choice to either be a servant to a Mormon family or a free spirit on a harsh desert land. No choice really. The innate human spirit must chose personal freedom.
We experience four generations of the initial Mormon family and Albertine’s children, many with Wesley or his son Enoch. The family stories parallel the transformation and assimilation of the Goshute Indians into Americam society. We see the humiliation and dismantling of Indian life as well as the continued assumption of superiority by the Mormons. The play is filled with interesting Indian folk lure and myths. The performances are worthy—especially from Sarah Antrim-Cambium (Albertine), Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates(Emma and others) and Robert Dennison (Wesley and others).
We witness the power of the human spirit and its connection to the land as well as the arrogance of Christian religion. The racism and cruelty of the white man raises its ugly head even in apparently nice religious Mormons. This brisk, two hour journey into the Goshute Indian’s tribulations, is both troubling and heart wrenching.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2008
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