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The Berlin Blues
A consortium of German developers shows up on the fictional Otter Lake Reserve with a seemingly irresistible offer to improve the local economy: the creation of “Ojibway World,” a Native theme park designed to attract European tourists, causing hilarious personal and political divisions within the local community.
The Berlin Blues concludes Drew Hayden Taylor’s Blues quartet, showcasing contemporary stereotypes of First Nations people, including a fair number that originate from Indigenous communities themselves, to the often outraged delight of his international audiences.
Yet Europeans and other ethnic groups are not exempt from Taylor’s incisive but good-humoured caricatures. Central to the motivation of these German developers are the hugely successful and best-selling adventure novels of the German author Karl May, whose work Adolf Hitler recommended as “good wholesome reading for all ages.” Written in the early twentieth century, they popularized Rousseau’s image of Indigenous peoples as “Noble Savages” among European, and especially German youth, and have led to the creation of Karl May theme parks all over central Europe, where adult tourists can shed their inhibitions and play Cowboys and Indians with a seriousness as ridiculous as it is abandoned. This is identity politics stripped of its politically correct hyper-seriousness and dramatized to its absurd and ultimately hilarious conclusion.
The Berlin Blues premiered in Los Angeles at Native Voices in February 2007, touring to New York (at the Museum of the American Indian), and then to the museum in Washington D.C. the following May, followed by a reading tour in Germany. In Canada it was produced at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay in January 2008, and then by Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon.
The Berlin Blues concludes Drew Hayden Taylor’s Blues quartet, showcasing contemporary stereotypes of First Nations people, including a fair number that originate from Indigenous communities themselves, to the often outraged delight of his international audiences.
Yet Europeans and other ethnic groups are not exempt from Taylor’s incisive but good-humoured caricatures. Central to the motivation of these German developers are the hugely successful and best-selling adventure novels of the German author Karl May, whose work Adolf Hitler recommended as “good wholesome reading for all ages.” Written in the early twentieth century, they popularized Rousseau’s image of Indigenous peoples as “Noble Savages” among European, and especially German youth, and have led to the creation of Karl May theme parks all over central Europe, where adult tourists can shed their inhibitions and play Cowboys and Indians with a seriousness as ridiculous as it is abandoned. This is identity politics stripped of its politically correct hyper-seriousness and dramatized to its absurd and ultimately hilarious conclusion.
The Berlin Blues premiered in Los Angeles at Native Voices in February 2007, touring to New York (at the Museum of the American Indian), and then to the museum in Washington D.C. the following May, followed by a reading tour in Germany. In Canada it was produced at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay in January 2008, and then by Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Drew Hayden Taylor
58 books296 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
April 4, 2023
Truly profound.
"We germans are very good at negotiating"
*offers a chocolate bar*
"We germans are very good at negotiating"
*offers a chocolate bar*
July 23, 2019
Great final “chapter” in the four Blues plays. Funny as well as insightful. Classic Drew Hayden Taylor.
January 30, 2019
A German corporation wants to bring modernity and civilisation to an Anishinaabe community by building a theme park called OjibwayWorld. They mix different tribal traditions together, ignore Indigenous perspectives and centre themselves and their egos all the time. At first, the Anishinaabe community almost unanimously agrees to the Germans‘ proposition, despite all the inaccuracies and insensitivities due to the social issues that prevail in that community. However, as time progresses, they realise that this project has less to do with them than with white savourism. A protest and huge buffalo/bison stampede ensues.
Drew Hayden Taylor‘s play about Germans‘ problematic engagement with Indigenous peoples and cultures is fast-paced, super punchy and too hilarious for its own good. Particularly the caricaturist portrayal of his characters is truly outstanding and on point. This is a MUST READ for all Germans who are interested in being allies to Indigenous peoples. This is our manual on how NOT TO treat Indigenous peoples and cultures.
Drew Hayden Taylor‘s play about Germans‘ problematic engagement with Indigenous peoples and cultures is fast-paced, super punchy and too hilarious for its own good. Particularly the caricaturist portrayal of his characters is truly outstanding and on point. This is a MUST READ for all Germans who are interested in being allies to Indigenous peoples. This is our manual on how NOT TO treat Indigenous peoples and cultures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2017
Read this one for an English class and did a play review. It was fun to read.
April 12, 2022
read for English class
December 6, 2024
Okay that was actually rlly interesting I’m surprised WHY ARE ALL THESE BOOKS IM READING FOR ENGLISH CLASS ACTUALLY GOOD
December 13, 2024
i think the book is overall a good read cause through out the story it has a lot of funny moments and it covers the native culture overall i would recomend reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2024
English school read
November 20, 2025
3.25 ⭐️
chose to read angie in class and she's fr a freak
chose to read angie in class and she's fr a freak
May 2, 2017
"Ah, aboriginal humour. Earthy, pun-oriented, often scatological in nature. Excellent. You may continue."
- Birgit,
one of the two German characters in The Berlin Blues by Drew Hayden Taylor
Thus is much of the humour in this funny little play summarized. At two or three laughs per page, this was a wonderfully irreverent and upbeat story, hiding a more meaningful core just below its silly surface.
German developers approach an Ojibway village in Ontario, Canada to build a theme park. The locals are a little torn, but could use the money. A year later, there is a gigantic laser beam dreamcatcher towering over the forest to their East, and their loveable and eccentric unemployed drunk is now dressing fancy and ordering people around.
I would love to see this play performed as community theatre on a Rez. I expect the reception would be raucous.
Four stars feels a little bit generous, especially after reading Steinbeck and Harold Pinter so recently. However, I know that this book was not aiming to become classic literature, and I believe it came very close to exactly where it aimed to be, sex and drug jokes and all.
- Birgit,
one of the two German characters in The Berlin Blues by Drew Hayden Taylor
Thus is much of the humour in this funny little play summarized. At two or three laughs per page, this was a wonderfully irreverent and upbeat story, hiding a more meaningful core just below its silly surface.
German developers approach an Ojibway village in Ontario, Canada to build a theme park. The locals are a little torn, but could use the money. A year later, there is a gigantic laser beam dreamcatcher towering over the forest to their East, and their loveable and eccentric unemployed drunk is now dressing fancy and ordering people around.
I would love to see this play performed as community theatre on a Rez. I expect the reception would be raucous.
Four stars feels a little bit generous, especially after reading Steinbeck and Harold Pinter so recently. However, I know that this book was not aiming to become classic literature, and I believe it came very close to exactly where it aimed to be, sex and drug jokes and all.
April 24, 2016
This is the first play by Canadian First Nation playwright Drew Hayden Taylor that I have come across and read, but it certainly won't be the last.
The Berlin Blues is a tight drama (for six primary actors) that projects a grand scheme, and what grand schemes can do to regular people. The play is set in a First Nation Reserve in Canada (belonging to the Ojibway) and the story involves two Germans representing an organisation that wants to build a Native "American" theme park: Ojibway World and four Ojibway who all react differently to this offer.
Funny and thought provoking, offering a human take on the pros and cons of change and just how much one can or should give up to "prosper", The Berlin Blues gives us samples of Dances with Wolves - The Musical, a buffalo (it's really Bison, ask the Germans!) stampede and a huge laser dreamcatcher.
Well worth reading, and I imagine seeing.
The Berlin Blues is a tight drama (for six primary actors) that projects a grand scheme, and what grand schemes can do to regular people. The play is set in a First Nation Reserve in Canada (belonging to the Ojibway) and the story involves two Germans representing an organisation that wants to build a Native "American" theme park: Ojibway World and four Ojibway who all react differently to this offer.
Funny and thought provoking, offering a human take on the pros and cons of change and just how much one can or should give up to "prosper", The Berlin Blues gives us samples of Dances with Wolves - The Musical, a buffalo (it's really Bison, ask the Germans!) stampede and a huge laser dreamcatcher.
Well worth reading, and I imagine seeing.
April 3, 2010
German developers descend on Otter Lake Reserve to build Ojibway World, a Native American theme park. It had it's moments and was amusing. I did not think it was as good as some of his other plays in the Blues quartet.
September 23, 2014
Forgot to add this when I read it last year. It's absolutely hilarious satire--I'm hoping to use this for my First Peoples English course next semester.
October 18, 2015
Simply awesome!
November 7, 2015
Required academic reading
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews