One of the strange paradoxes of storytelling is that in order to speak to universal truths, you have to be as specific as possible. Stories and characters that try to speak to the general human experience aren’t going to hold as much resonance as a detailed account of a particular character and given circumstances.
I think that’s why I was drawn to the characters Deanna StandingCloud writes about in “Blood Quantum Physics,” a podcast play performing live at the Gremlin Theatre.
Produced by New Native Theatre and made up of seven episodes, the podcast follows the lives of several Native women living, working and dreaming in South Minneapolis. NNT is recording the live readings and will release the series as a podcast in 2025.
“If you’re from Minneapolis, you’re just going to be like, ‘Oh, my God, this is such a Minneapolis story,’” NNT artistic director Rhianna Yazzie said when introducing the series before a performance Sunday. “If you’re a Native woman in the community, you’re going to be like, ‘I can’t believe it’s so specific to the little details of what my life is like living in Minneapolis and being Native in this community.’”
A member of the Red Lake Nation of Anishinaabe, StandingCloud grew up in South Minneapolis and has worked as an educator and in cultural preservation and community building. She’s also a playwright and comedian. She began “Blood Quantum Physics” originally as a 10-minute play in 2017 and has expanded the work since then, eventually creating a 7-episode series.
StandingCloud’s deep knowledge of her community comes out in her writing. It appears in the way the characters talk about place and in the way they interact with each other, like the relationships between the younger Native characters and the elders, and the back and forth they play about passing down knowledge — sometimes to humorous effect.
In the world StandingCloud shows us, you meet someone and they tell you they knew your mother in the ‘80s. It’s a community where everybody knows everybody, and when there’s someone new in town — like a handsome Native from Canada who’s into the old ways, it’s of great interest.
StandingCloud has spent her career helping her community, and that understanding is reflected in the work.
That specificity of place and people is also indicative of the spirit of New Native Theatre, which is in its 15th season. Founded by Yazzie, NNT often develops work from artists in the Native community.
“So many community members have come to us, saying, ‘I want to write a story. I want to do this.’” Yazzie remarked on Sunday’s show. “And we’re like, let’s find a way to make that happen. And I think this podcast is a really fantastic example of that.”
There’s also a strong sense of the characters seeking deeper connection to their tribal identity. From applying to a Native language program to seeking out cultural practices like sugarbush (the Anishinaabe way of collecting sap from Maple trees), and sewing a ribbon skirt in honor of Missing and Murdered Women and Children, the women look to deepen their understanding of Native culture.
These stories are often funny, and they are heartfelt. We see the care and love the characters have for each other, and how they help each other with the day-to-day struggles they encounter.
The episodic nature of the series lends to the warm nature of the stories. We don’t see high drama, but rather the everyday struggles of people getting by. There’s romance, friendship, even adventure as the women work to improve their lives and find the small joys in life. It reminds me a bit of a television show that you watch because you like to see the characters live out their lives with humor and empathy.
Because the actors hold scripts and speak in front of microphones, they use their voices, rather than bodies, to help with characterization. Yazzie, who reads the stage directions, lends her voice at times for characters in the show, and she’s really quite a hoot. As Tina, a mother character tending to her family and friends as she strives to improve herself, Fawn Sampson emits a kindness in her portrayal.
NNT is showing the seven episodes in two different programs. The episodes are somewhat self-contained, so you can come to Part 1 or 2 and still be able to follow along. If you only make it to one of the two nights, don’t feel like “ you’re gonna miss out,” Yazzie said. “The only thing you’re gonna miss out on is more fun.”
Friday, Dec. 13 (part 2) and Saturday, Dec. 14 (part 1) at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14 (part 2) at 2 p.m., at Gremlin Theatre. ($35 or pay what you can.) More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at [email protected].