CIVILIZED short preview

"CIVILIZED" is performed by multi-award-winning Métis actor, John D. Huston, written by Keir Cutler, directed by Paul Hopkins, and played in 2022 to rave reviews. In 2023, the show was redesigned by Jay Havens, a multi-media 2Spirit artist and professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.
The monologue resurrects a "civilized" Canadian government bureaucrat from the year 1907 to defend the indefensible, Sir Wilfrid Laurier's treatment of Indigenous Peoples. It is a compelling look at how being "civilized" has warped our values and led to the Indian Residential Schools' catastrophe and is based on and frequently quoting directly from historical reports, writings and speeches.
FIVE STARS - Winnipeg Free Press, "Gripping, fascinating, . . . Civilized brings to life parts of our past that we are still trying to reconcile. It is based on true historical reports and writings, and the way it's told is digestible and engaging. This play should be shown in schools, workplaces, old folks' homes and anywhere else people will see it." (Review by Shelley Cook of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, from 2022 Winnipeg Fringe Festival,)
"CIVILIZED may be one of the most important things you ever see on stage!" Apt613 review, Ottawa Fringe Festival 2022
"“Civilized” is a haunting yet accessible exploration and depiction of the alarming “truth” of our past, which must be made known and understood before we can even contemplate achieving “reconciliation”. It is most certainly an important and provocative history lesson, delivered in this production with pomp, passion and purpose." Kingston Whig Standard, 2023.
"CIVILIZED is one of the best plays I've seen at this year's Fringe and is very timely given the cultural reckoning Canada is now undergoing. Go see it!" UMFM Radio review, Winnipeg Fringe Festival 2022
"John D. Huston's performance is nothing short of a tour-de-force! ...This show should be required viewing in this country!" The Visitorium review, Ottawa Fringe Festival 2022
"Well-researched and thoroughly vetted, this haunting portrait holds an authentic, unflattering mirror up to us, a disturbing reflection of ourselves trailing back through generations. It doesn't feel preachy or scolding; Cutler, Hopkins and Huston maintain a thoughtful, empathetic atmosphere of shared remorse over a grotesque truth." Istvan Dugalin, istvandugalin, Toronto.
"Don't miss this opportunity. Civilized is difficult and demanding, but should be seen as completely required viewing for all." Steven Ross, (Indigenous person) Front Mezz Junkies, Toronto.
"I implore you to see this play. Civilized achieves exactly what it sets out to do: it makes us open our eyes to what really happened and lights the fire in our hearts to do something about it." Janine Marley, A View from the Box, Toronto.
The Indian Residential School system had a profound and lasting impact on Indigenous communities in Canada, and the harm caused by the system is still being felt today. It is important to recognize and acknowledge the harm caused by the Indian Residential School system, and to work towards reconciliation and justice for Indigenous peoples in Canada.
www.keircutler.com

[@divaloulou]

Oh! Keir! Where? When? Wheelchair accessible? I MUST see this play. Bravo!

[@keircutler]

Thank you so much. We expect to announce future shows soon. Where are you located?

[@divaloulou]

! @keircutler Basses-Laurentides!