By What the Hill?

Three little birds, where Bob Marley meets central Saskatchewan

Mar 8, 2011 | 8:50 PM

Any play that features music by Bob Marley is good in my books.

However the play Three Little Birds is so much better than just good.

The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company is presenting this production that features Tantoo Cardinal, Ntara Curry and Aaron Shingoose. The play was written by Saskatchewan’s own Kenneth Williams and directed by Lorne Cardinal.

To most people all of this probably already sounds amazing, but when I signed to up to see it, I didn’t know who any of these people were. I bought my ticket because I had a close friend involved with the publicity. I was going to support her and, well, I do love the theatre.

When I arrived at her house in Saskatoon, one of the first things she said was, “this play is going to make you cry.”

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Hold on, I didn’t sign up for crying. The last time I cried during a play it was the musical Miss Saigon and that was one of those endings that leaves a little scar. On route to the Remai Arts Centre, she reassured me — a little.

“You are going to laugh, too.”

She was right. The play manages to deal with some heavy topics, such as parenting, life on reserves, battles with cancer, growing up and growing old, in a light-hearted way. It also manages to walk the thin line of funny and inappropriate without stepping across.

An aging kokum is dealing with cancer that is slowly killing her, but she wants a grandbaby, something her 30-something daughter, who lives in Prince Albert, isn’t yet ready to give her. So she takes in a teenaged father and his child. There is something everyone can identify with, whether the battle with long-term illness or unique family dynamics.

The play rides on the music of Bob Marley, especially the song Three Little Birds.

I did laugh and I did, cry, twice, even though I knew everything was 'going to be alright.'

Tickets are still available and the play runs until Mar. 13, it’s definitely worth the trip to Saskatoon.

ahill@panow.com