Set during the Mi’kmaw-led protests that led to the removal of the statue of British army officer and administrator Charles Cornwallis in Halifax in the 2010s, Lisa Nasson’s powerful debut is, ultimately, a heartwarming and funny story.
After her mother’s disappearance, Brooke (Nasson) is content enough working at her uncle Chris’ (Jeremy Proulx) convenience store on the Rez, until Emily (Nicole Joy Fraser), an ancestor spirit, appears in the shop storage room and encourages her to find her strength to face her grief, and share her gifts with the world.
In less experienced hands, the characters could dissolve into stereotypes, but each cast member brings depth along with their comedic skills.
Andy Moro’s whale ribcage set and video design transform the stage into a sometimes-psychedelic trip to the East Coast. A frenetic drive from Cole Harbour to Cornwallis Park, complete with video of the actual drive, was a disorienting and noteworthy scene that pulled the audience into the fervour of Brooke’s emotional state when she accidentally commits the mischief that helps her community and herself. Powerful and funny, Mischief is a fierce playwriting debut for Nasson. Her career is one to watch.
This article appeared in the 2026 Apr/May issue.