Overview
Synopsis
Coyote City is the first in Daniel David Moses’ series of four City Plays. It follows the journey of one First Nations family as they travel between a world of spiritual traditions and the greedy urban landscape of the big city. When Lena receives a phone call from her dead boyfriend, Johnny, she leaves her reserve and heads to the city in hot pursuit of her lost lover. Closely following behind her are her younger sister, Boo, her mother, and a minister with a drink problem. Out of their comfort zone in the city, the group is forced to confront their demons, whether that be alcohol, spiritual belief, or the true state of their family relationships. The play opens with a ghost, but it also ends with a new one. Coyote City is funny, moving, mysterious, and tragic, all at the same time.
Show Information
- Book
- Daniel David Moses
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1988
- Genres
- Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- A First Nations Reserve, A Big Canadian City, 1988
- Cast Size
- small
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Note: This play was written in 1988 and therefore refers to Indigenous characters as ‘Indians’, which was common language at the time. Daniel David Moses addresses this in his introductory interview to the 2017 edition of the play.
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
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.
Term used to describe Indigenous peoples in Canada who are not Métis or Inuit.
Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher