A school in Regina, Saskatchewan, recently sent its students to a performance of a LandBack-themed play at a local theatre, only to quickly realize the content was far from age-appropriate. The play, titled Little Red Warrior And His Lawyer, is a bawdy courtroom comedy featuring a drag queen portraying a gyrating, rump-thrusting, and boob-jiggling version of Queen Elizabeth II in an underbust corset. The school, in a letter to parents, explained that the theatre had indicated the production was suitable for students aged 14 and above, but the actual performance exceeded those expectations, prompting an early departure.
The Play's Inappropriate Content
Videos circulated on social media by Just Bins, a Saskatchewan garbage company that also engages in local news reporting, showed clips from the performance. One clip depicted a male character in lawyer's robes bending over to sniff or kiss the drag queen's protruding rear. Another showed the drag queen doing a handstand against a pole, spreading legs wide while lustily crying out a line referencing Danielle Smith. In that clip, guests, described as Grade 9 students, were seen leaving the theatre. The drag queen also performed a strip-tease-like routine against a pole, wearing a skimpy bodice that left breasts exposed under sheer black mesh and covered only by nipple stickers with the English or British flag.
Theatre's Description vs. Reality
The theatre's website describes the play as having mature themes and sexual humour, recommending an audience of 16 and up. The summary reads: "In this courtroom comedy the last member of the Little Red Warrior First Nation isn't here to play by the rules. When Red discovers a condo development tearing into his ancestral land, he fights back — literally. What follows is a wild collision of justice, Trickster mischief, and unexpected romance." However, the raunchy aspects were not highlighted, leaving teachers unaware of the explicit content. The school confirmed to the National Post that the communications were authentic.
Sponsorship by Law Firm
The play was sponsored by a Western Canadian law firm, raising questions about their awareness of the content. The firm's involvement has drawn criticism, as the performance is clearly intended for adults. One internet review noted that the play was a hit among an audience of "inherently middle-aged and senior Caucasians", suggesting it is not suitable for a student audience.
School's Response
In a letter to parents, the school stated: "Today's production aligned with the curriculum as it was a satirical farce meets romantic comedy. The materials provided by (the theatre) stated the production was rated for students aged 14+ due to mature content. As the play progressed, the production reached levels of maturity beyond expectations, and we made the decision to leave early based on our professional discretion." The school has since faced backlash from parents and the community.
Broader Implications
This incident highlights the challenges schools face in vetting校外 performances and the responsibility of theatres to provide accurate content descriptions. It also raises questions about the role of corporate sponsors in funding potentially controversial art. The play, which involves LandBack themes and explicit sexual content, has sparked debate about age-appropriateness and the boundaries of satire in educational settings.
