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AlterNatives by Drew Hayden Taylor
A very liberal contemporary couple Angel, an urban Native science fiction writer; and Colleen, a "non-practicing" Jewish intellectual who teaches Native literature have a dinner party. The guests at this little "sitcom" soir
Paperback
First published February 15, 2000
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About the author
Drew Hayden Taylor
58 books294 followersDuring the last thirty years of his life, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.
He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.
Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.
The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.
The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.
Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.
He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.
Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.
The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.
The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.
Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 15, 2024
5 STARS
CW: mention of racism, mention of colonization, mention of alcoholism
Wow. I'm really impressed with this play and I can't quite wrap my head around how much is in this. I absolutely love it! I also kind of hope this will be in my exam in two days because I could write pages upon pages of thoughts about this.
This is about Angel and Colleen who are hosting a dinner party with their friends, only Colleen, an older Native Lit professor, has invited Angel's friends without asking him and chaos ensues. Michelle and Dale are Michelle's friends and vegetarians, Bobby and Yvonne are Angel's friends and alterNative Warriors and in the beginning, a lot of Angel's past is a mystery.
I really loved how layered this is. It's about racism, expectations based on stereotypes, facing one's own bias but, equally, it's about stories and storytelling. And if you know me then it comes as no surprise that I especially loved that aspect of the story. I love anything meta and self-aware and this was very much so in more than one way. It was about truth and stories, authenticity but also discussed the value attributed to different genres and who should write what types of stories.
The end perfectly wrapped this up for me and I kind of wish I could read Angel's story about the Native astronaut in a longer form. If any of this sounds interesting to you, read this. I hope that this will come up sometime in my studies again because I need to talk to people about it and discuss the plethora of topics.
CW: mention of racism, mention of colonization, mention of alcoholism
Wow. I'm really impressed with this play and I can't quite wrap my head around how much is in this. I absolutely love it! I also kind of hope this will be in my exam in two days because I could write pages upon pages of thoughts about this.
This is about Angel and Colleen who are hosting a dinner party with their friends, only Colleen, an older Native Lit professor, has invited Angel's friends without asking him and chaos ensues. Michelle and Dale are Michelle's friends and vegetarians, Bobby and Yvonne are Angel's friends and alterNative Warriors and in the beginning, a lot of Angel's past is a mystery.
I really loved how layered this is. It's about racism, expectations based on stereotypes, facing one's own bias but, equally, it's about stories and storytelling. And if you know me then it comes as no surprise that I especially loved that aspect of the story. I love anything meta and self-aware and this was very much so in more than one way. It was about truth and stories, authenticity but also discussed the value attributed to different genres and who should write what types of stories.
The end perfectly wrapped this up for me and I kind of wish I could read Angel's story about the Native astronaut in a longer form. If any of this sounds interesting to you, read this. I hope that this will come up sometime in my studies again because I need to talk to people about it and discuss the plethora of topics.
January 17, 2018
Although I'm not a big fan of reading plays, this play changed my perspective. It is light, deep, and entertaining. Taylor made his presentation in a witty yet simple way; using easy recognisable language to present complex matters. The distribution of the characters was clever. The aboriginal author tackled rather controversial issues about first nations and white nations, however, there were no traces of subjectivity in his work. The play is indeed similar to a 'sitcom' with its realistic and sarcastic conversations.
April 25, 2014
Awesome. Love Taylor's writing and the content. Can't wait to read more of Taylor's works.
December 5, 2024
I was first introduced to the work of Drew Hayden Taylor in an indigenous literature course in third year university. He was just starting out, with a few plays written and produced. 30 years later, he has been many things: an award-winning playwright, a journalist/columnist/host, short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and documentarian. But I still love his plays the most!
AlterNATIVES was published in 2000, and though I love Drew Hayden Taylor’s humour and witty character banter, I feared that reading a 25 year old play about a dinner party featuring three indigenous activists (well, one is in recovery) and three middle-class white friends would not age well. Sadly, it has. The issues presented in the play are as relevant today as when the play was written, and offer humour and satire that is as biting as it is important! I enjoyed the play even when it made me feel uncomfortable, or angry, or righteous, or smug. I also feel this would be a great play to teach because it deals with significant issues of indigenous reconciliation and appropriation, but in an accessible way for high school students. It also is not driven by graphic stories of assault or tragic loss, which makes it easier to focus on the issues for many teenagers.
AlterNATIVES was published in 2000, and though I love Drew Hayden Taylor’s humour and witty character banter, I feared that reading a 25 year old play about a dinner party featuring three indigenous activists (well, one is in recovery) and three middle-class white friends would not age well. Sadly, it has. The issues presented in the play are as relevant today as when the play was written, and offer humour and satire that is as biting as it is important! I enjoyed the play even when it made me feel uncomfortable, or angry, or righteous, or smug. I also feel this would be a great play to teach because it deals with significant issues of indigenous reconciliation and appropriation, but in an accessible way for high school students. It also is not driven by graphic stories of assault or tragic loss, which makes it easier to focus on the issues for many teenagers.
April 13, 2025
*Read for school*
tbh the whole time I just felt really sorry for Angel.
no one in this story knew place and time and everyone was a bit unhinged.
the writing was very good, the story was witty, and the conversations had where important ones but the play was ultimately very tense from the very beginning to the very end which hindered my reading experience.
tbh the whole time I just felt really sorry for Angel.
no one in this story knew place and time and everyone was a bit unhinged.
the writing was very good, the story was witty, and the conversations had where important ones but the play was ultimately very tense from the very beginning to the very end which hindered my reading experience.
April 7, 2023
Drew Hayden Taylor’s witty humor and quick pace paired with a modern setting makes this a fast read that deeply changes your perspective. Each piece of dialogue (or awkward silence) is contributing to a larger statement that is all tied together through the closing monologue.
May 26, 2019
alterNatives is a difficult play that really needs the reader to be willing to reserve judgement and sit with its themes. However, for those that do so the ride is more than worth the struggle.
September 30, 2020
This is a brilliant play - hard to believe it is 20 years' old. I would love to see this on stage.
I want to read all this writer's work now...
I want to read all this writer's work now...
April 18, 2025
This felt like I was watching a 13 part tiktok series. Loved the drama!!
April 17, 2024
alterNatives by Drew Hayden Taylor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first play of the year! Taking place over the course of an awkward dinner party, this play unpacks serious issues of race and stereotyping. This play was brilliantly written and I found that each character represented an extreme on either side of the stereotype that they present. While Colleen may be a scholar of indigenous history, it becomes obvious that she hasn’t done the work nor has the understanding of decolonizing herself. While Yvonne’s character represents the extremes to which indigenous people will go to protect their culture. Dale uses his very little indigenous blood as a way to make himself innocent in the ways in which he treats and talks to indigenous peoples despite having no connection to the culture. Angel’s character represents the person trying to escape their heritage to form a new life. Overall this play has been considered controversial for the ways in which Hayden Taylor discusses complex and uncomfortable societal conversations. I overall enjoyed the story and the multi-faceted nature it took on.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first play of the year! Taking place over the course of an awkward dinner party, this play unpacks serious issues of race and stereotyping. This play was brilliantly written and I found that each character represented an extreme on either side of the stereotype that they present. While Colleen may be a scholar of indigenous history, it becomes obvious that she hasn’t done the work nor has the understanding of decolonizing herself. While Yvonne’s character represents the extremes to which indigenous people will go to protect their culture. Dale uses his very little indigenous blood as a way to make himself innocent in the ways in which he treats and talks to indigenous peoples despite having no connection to the culture. Angel’s character represents the person trying to escape their heritage to form a new life. Overall this play has been considered controversial for the ways in which Hayden Taylor discusses complex and uncomfortable societal conversations. I overall enjoyed the story and the multi-faceted nature it took on.
March 7, 2011
Bought it off craigslist for $5 and it was pretty good! Funny and ironic at times, well written, and interesting story. My favourite part is when the vegetarian takes a rebellious, extremist stance against his nagging self-righteous girlfriend and eats a slice of moosemeat roast. Plays are usually difficult for me to get into but this one wasn't, and I got through it really quickly. Pretty good read.
March 3, 2025
Lots of satire and funny.
Read this for my Indigenous English course. Was different from the other books we read: The Truth About Stories and Indian Horse.
Was a nice change to have some humour in it. The introduction where Angel goes “Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch.” Five times was great an excuse for us to swear in class and the teacher let us. I believe there was the F word thrown in it somewhere.
Read this for my Indigenous English course. Was different from the other books we read: The Truth About Stories and Indian Horse.
Was a nice change to have some humour in it. The introduction where Angel goes “Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch.” Five times was great an excuse for us to swear in class and the teacher let us. I believe there was the F word thrown in it somewhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2017
I wanted to like this much more than I did. I'm jaded by Native Americans proving their sides of every argument as the right side by belittling and outwitting their white opponents. But perhaps I'm just tired of whites being opponents. I'm ready for activism based on opening and changing minds, rather than duking it out and illuminating who is the most foolish.
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October 31, 2017good
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews