‘Timeless’ play exploring union of Métis, settler families debuts at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

The newest play to hit a Winnipeg stage explores how a Métis family navigates the blending of two families – their own and that of settlers.

“The Comeback” – a comedic tale about family and love – debuts at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s main stage Thursday.

Sam Vint, who wrote the play with his wife Trish Cooper, calls it a “timeless tale.”

“As two people from different worlds come together,” he said. “Hijinks ensue.

“There’s very different people out there but we all love our children and want the best for our families, and we’re trying hard.”

Vint says the play is about his own family.

“My wife and I had a couple of party stories that we told that seemed to go over very well and, it’s like, there’s a bit of a story actually, here. And it went from there,” he said.

“The Comeback” is Vint’s first foray into playwriting. Although he didn’t always enjoy the process of putting pen to paper, he’s glad to finally see it on stage.

“Pretty incredible artists have now put their mark on the script, it’s not just us anymore. It’s neat to see what they’ve done with it,” he said.

Val Vint, Sam’s mother and the play’s cultural consultant, feels the message will resonate with many.

“I don’t think it’s a unique story,” she said. “Any Indigenous person you run into has a story.”

The personal elements about the play made it difficult for Val to even read it in the first place.

“They gave me the script a few months ago,” she recalled. “Took me a while to get up the courage to read it.

“I was OK with it, but it brought lots of memories I’d rather not have. That’s the only thing.”

She adds she hopes people can find their own personal connections to the story, and feels the play represents truth in Canada’s journey of Truth and Reconciliation.

“I think this is now the fourth Indigenous-written play in Winnipeg this year,” she said. “And we’re not done yet.”

The mother and son duo is also collaborating on a future project at the Dalnavert Museum.

“The Comeback” runs until May 18.