
Overview
Synopsis
The Rez Sisters follows a group of seven Indigenous sisters from Manitoulin Island as they embark on a journey to the Biggest Bingo in the World in Toronto. The women share their hardships, laughter, anger, and plenty of gossip along the way, as they dream of how winning the big pot could help them overcome their personal challenges. The Rez Sisters is a celebration of resilience and the beauty of sisterhood. This risqué, joyous, mystical comedic-drama is the seminal work of Indigenous playwright, Tomson Highway. Although primarily written in English, there are interjections of Cree and Ojibway, two Indigenous languages of the Manitoulin Island reservations, where the story takes place. The Rez Sisters has a companion piece called Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (1989), which follows the men of the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reservation.
Show Information
- Book
- Tomson Highway
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1986
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Late summer, 1986, The Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada
- Cast Size
- medium
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists.
A activist of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
Term used to describe Indigenous peoples in Canada who are not Métis or Inuit.
Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
Stories from ancient cultures about divine figures and supernatural events, often considered as a combination of literature, science, history, and religion
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.