Overview
Synopsis
In a modern reimagining of the Christmas story, Daniel David Moses continues the story of one Indigenous family in the second play of his four-part City series. At the end of Coyote City, Lena disappeared into the city night with a charismatic prostitute, much to the dismay of her mother and sister, Boo. They have remained in the city and are staying with Boo and Lena’s aunt and uncle, Barbara and Jack. Boo has been out looking for Lena, but her efforts have been in vain so far. However, Lena’s sudden arrival on Christmas Eve throws the household into chaos, especially as she is in labor with a seemingly miraculous child. As Lena gives birth to a baby in the bathroom, Jack tries to get his head around the situation, while protecting his property from a quirky street kid who knows how to make the best out of a bad situation. Farcical, energetic, and deeply moving, Big Buck City documents the survival of an Indigenous family in a materialistic, fast-moving city.
Show Information
- Book
- Daniel David Moses
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1991
- Genres
- Farce, Comedy
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Christmas Eve, A renovated house in an old part of the city, Canada, 1991
- Cast Size
- small
- Ideal For
- College/University, Diverse Cast, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
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.
Stories from ancient cultures about divine figures and supernatural events, often considered as a combination of literature, science, history, and religion
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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