Spirit Horse: A Review and Interview with Brianne Tucker

Pictured (L-R): Lisa Nasson, Anne Lederman, Cameron Johnston and Brianne Tucker in a scene from Spirit Horse; Costume Design by Robin Fisher; Set & Lighting Design by Glenn Davidson; | Photo by Ali Sultani

Young People’s Theatre (YPT) presents Spirit Horse, the story of one family’s struggle between their traditional aboriginal ways and their urban culture. Two sisters, both grieving for their mother, bond over the appearance of a spirit horse they name Wildwind and in their struggle to keep the horse, they learn to face the challenges of past and present. Spirit Horse is a Native American adaptation by Drew Hayden Taylor from the Irish play called ‘Tir Na N’Og’.

Following the performance, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brianne Tucker, the actress who plays Jesse. She is a Toronto -based actress who has Metis background. She was enthusiastic about the play and gave me insights into the meanings behind the story.

The spirit horse comes to the family to help them, almost like magic. Some people may think of the horse as the mother’s spirit returning to the family. Based on Brianne’s Metis heritage, she believes human spirits and animal spirits cannot be in the same being.

“I believe that the horse has been sent by the mother’s spirit, but is an entity onto its own,” Brianne said. “This spirit horse can appear whenever needed to other families or other people for different reasons.”

The spirit horse is so mysterious that the audience may wonder if they are real. While Brianne doesn’t believe in spirit horses as they appear in the play, she has her own opinion on about them. “I’d like to think that those we love watch us in some way, but I believe more especially because they stay with us as long as we remember them, and remember what they taught us. We can close our eyes and feel them around us.” This is a comforting thought to people who miss someone they’ve lost.

Although there are many messages in the production, Brianne feels that family is the most important message. She defines family as, “the connectivity of the people you are a part of and will always be a part of you.” I agree with Brianne about the importance of family in the play because my favourite scene was when the sisters shared a ride on a freight train and supported each other in their time of need. This was a touching scene of sisterly love.

One of the most interesting aspects of the play is that the three actors play over sixty-five characters. Brianne mentioned that the hardest part about playing many characters is being able to keep the energy going. From her perspective as an actor, she talked about how she changes her stance and voice to help play different characters.

In addition to the three actors on stage, there was also a talented musician, Anne Lederman, who played multiple instruments. She was fun to watch as her music matched the action on stage. Sometimes when there was no dialogue, her music conveyed the mood of the scene.

I liked the play because most of the plays I’ve seen are light, funny, and happy, but this play deals with serious issues like grief, discrimination, and strong family bonds. While there is a balance between the funny parts and the serious parts, I learned a lot from this play.