The Clemson Players opened their second show of the fall semester, Larissa FastHorse’s “The Thanksgiving Play,” on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bellamy Theatre at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.
With the play set to make its Broadway debut in 2023, the Players’ run of the show raises some questions as to the morality of the story being told in a setting like Clemson.
The Clemson Players delivered performances consistent with the talent seen in many recent campus showings. The four-person cast consisted of Jessica Candid, a senior bioengineering major, Daniela La Ferrara, a senior performing arts major, Tony Daniels, a senior political science major, and Wes Cotter, a sophomore performing arts major.
La Ferrara, consistent with previous shows from the Players, delivered the most solid performance, effortlessly embodying the wit and confidence of her character, Alicia, an actress best described as personifying “simplicity.” She provided the most laughs consistently, though the other three each had their shining gags.
Daniels was a refreshing addition to this performance, as he has not been featured in any recently-reviewed shows. His anxious, eccentric history buff character was incredibly endearing, and showcased the young actor’s depth of talent.
The most consistent strength shown by the Clemson Players, however, is their set design. The classroom setting was incredibly realistic, taking advantage of the architecturally academic nature of the Bellamy Theatre. Scenic designer Shannon Robert has never wavered in her talent on this field and consistently elevates these shows.
Performance aside, the technical crew once again shined through this production. The technical aspect of Clemson’s theatre programs generally hits the mark, and “The Thanksgiving Play” was no exception. The lighting, sound, costume, hair and makeup departments were particularly impressive.
The tech crew took it a step further, incorporating small videos starring the cast that played on a television above the set. It was an added layer of dynamics and engagement simply because of its execution. The actual content value of the videos, however, lacked.
Katherine Cannon, a senior performing arts major, transitioned from stage to assistant director in just one show. Cannon, the lead and a highlight of the Players’ last show “The Moors,” delivered alongside director Thomas Azar for “The Thanksgiving Play” production. The directorial vision was clear throughout and showed obvious signs of expertise.
While the intentions seemed pure, and the play itself is meant to poke fun at schools who are socially conscious to a fault, a message that falls flat when the Players participated in racially-exploitative theater, just one semester before this run.
The Players’ performance of Daryl Lisa Fazio’s ”Split in Three” was a hollow attempt to tell a racially-charged story, with its greatest flaw lying in the predominantly white cast.
With that performance fresh in audiences’ minds, “The Thanksgiving Play” presented a look into the thought process behind universities who put on shows of that nature, despite a lack of diversity in their cast; unfortunately, Clemson falls into that category.
There is a time and place for this script, and the time is most certainly now. ”The Thanksgiving Play” may find its audience on Broadway, but its place is not here in these hills.

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Brooks Center // Sourced

La Ferrara, consistent with previous shows from the Players, delivered the most solid performance, effortlessly embodying the wit and confidence of her character, Alicia, an actress best described as personifying "simplicity."