Camille Kamseu in Frist Generation (Brandon Parigo)
“When I first got here, I did not think this was America. Because the America that was described to us is not the America I see.”
That message is spoken by Patience, a young refugee in the new play First Generation, and echoed by Patience’s community of fellow teen refugees. They’re not expressing disappointment, necessarily, or even criticism, but just the frustrating complexity of having to step into a new reality. The play embraces that complexity and asks its audience to sit with it without forcing these young people’s stories into any preconceived narrative.
For First Generation, which was commissioned by Spinning Tree Theatre and produced in collaboration with the Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, playwright Victor Wishna sat down with teen refugees to hear their stories firsthand. He then used those interviews as the inspiration for what ultimately became a powerful script. It’s not clear how much of those real experiences made their way into Wishna’s work, but the characters he’s created feel rich and nuanced, brimming with complexity. (Full disclosure: Wishna is a longtime contributor to KC Studio.)
The core narrative centers on high school student Ruthie (Jordan Rosenwald), who has come to volunteer at a “newcomers” meeting for young refugees and immigrants. She wants to make a documentary of sorts and is paired with Patience (Kadence Bowie) to help her gain insight into what these students have been through. But as well-meaning as she may be, it’s clear to Patience that Ruthie came in with an idea of what “the refugee experience” would look and sound like, and she bristles at being seen through such a reductive lens.
We get to learn more about the other students via a series of monologues sprinkled in between Patience and Ruthie’s scenes. Speaking directly to the audience, they share their stories—of where they came from, how they got here, what their lives have been like since—as well as their passions and their dreams for the future. Wishna’s monologues are vibrant, funny, and affecting, and the actors delivering them are extremely charming, without exception. It’s impossible not to feel deeply invested in these characters. They’re the type whose stories stay with you long after leaving the theatre.
First Generation had a short one-weekend run and will have already closed by the time of publication of this article. But it serves as a reminder that those audiences seeking original, impactful work showcasing local artists and young performers would do well to keep Spinning Tree on their radar moving forward.
The young performers featured in First Generation are Kadence Bowie, Carl Brock, Nile Clipner, Joaquin Gonzalez-Layton, Aahil Hassan, Camille Kamseu, Alice Lenz, Elisa Lopez, Makayla Manning, Jordan Rosenwald and Raegan Rosenwald. Leonardo Aptilon performs live violin music throughout the performance.
“First Generation,” a production of Spinning Tree Theatre in collaboration with Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, ran through April 19 at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park. For more information, visit spinningtreetheatre.com.
