Foxfinder
Foxfinder by Dawn King directed by Ann-Marie Pereth
Dates: September 23-25 at 7 pm; September 26 at 2 pm
Venue: The Space, 3460 Cavaretta Ct, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Ticket prices: $40 General Admission; $35 Student, Senior, Military
The Covey Farm is in distress. Afflicted with fallow fields, an over-abundance of pests, and seemingly unending rain, Samuel and Judith struggle to meet the Capitol’s demanding quotas. The situation is complicated with the arrival of William Bloor, a nascent Foxfinder dispatched by the government to help the couple solve their agricultural woes. But is Bloor really there to help, or has he been sent by the powerful to assign blame? A riveting play offering an unnerving critique of political mind-control and bureaucratic propaganda. This was the play that introduced A Public Fit to the audiences of Las Vegas!
September 23, 2021
September 24, 2021
September 25, 2021
September 26, 2021
Director’s Note (from the program)
Let’s talk about foxes.
Three summers ago, a group of friends and I were visiting London and early on in the trip, as we made our way home from the pub one night, a fox crossed our path. It was a magic moment; I had never seen a fox up close and personal before and the furry, sharp-nosed beast was much smaller than I had imagined foxes to be. We all stood for a moment regarding each other and although I’d like to say that she was more scared of us than we were of her, my heart pounded with the thrill of the encounter. I saw it as a sign, a magical omen that would set the tone for an incredible trip. You see, since the beginning of A Public Fit’s journey, foxes have been the unofficial mascots for our nascent theatre. The success of our inaugural Foxfinder production back in 2014 cued a parade of fox-themed gifts – fox mugs and fox keychains and fox ornaments streamed into the house. Now, here in London, this tiny, red-headed beauty had nodded her head to us, giving us her blessing and the sign we needed to be assured of a spectacular holiday.
I wonder now, looking back on that event, if I really believed that the appearance of that suburban summer fox really was a sign. And I have to say: yeah, I did. At least a little. But not in the way it might sound: it was a vivid memory that added to the particular charm of that vacation. But I tried to stop just short of magical thinking; I had been in that mindset before and was very sensitive to its dangerous pitfalls. In what seems like an entire lifetime ago, I spent several years in a religious community that occupied much of my time and resources. I was dedicated. I was committed. I was molded and modified by the teachings of this community, so much so that when I would run into old friends from college, often they would find me unrecognizable – a completely different person. And I was different; I had been changed by the signs and symbols of this community. But as the years passed, I started to have questions; lots and lots of questions which made me challenge and eventually leave the company of this organization. But even now, after being away from that group for over 10 years, that fox-like thinking is so hardwired into my psyche I am often afraid to make simple choices that run contrary to my old dogma. That said, lightning has not struck me. Yet.
Looking back over the course of my life, I see that we are all indoctrinated into a form of thinking, one way or another. Whether dictated by politics, religion, or even the personal culture of our families’ mantras, our mindsets so easily slip into the ruts of well-traveled roadways. And should the time ever come when we discover that our inculcated system of thinking is, in fact, harmful to ourselves and possibly to others, pulling ourselves out of those ruts can be a frightening, formidable ordeal. Whether you are a true believer or a doubting Thomas, we must all eventually ask ourselves what our “fox-like” magical thinking does to create division in our lives, in our families, and in our communities writ large. Does it cause us to fear those of a different race, political, or religious agenda? Does it cause us to lay blame where compassion and tolerance are warranted? I don’t know. But I can say, without a shadow of a doubt: beware of the foxes.
A-MP, September 2021
