Banana Musik – A Heartwarming Hit at the Mann Art Gallery

This past Friday, the Mann Art Gallery was honoured to host Banana Musik, a touching and tender memory play created and performed by Regina-based artist Kris Alvarez and her family. It was an evening that drew laughter, tears, and meaningful conversations long after the final bow — a true testament to the power of storytelling and shared experience.

Banana Musik is rooted in Kris’s reflections on aging, reciprocity, and the deeply personal journey of being a daughter of immigrant parents. Through humour, honesty, and heart, Kris welcomed the audience into her childhood home, sharing stories that were as intimate as they were relatable. The performance was made even more special by the presence of her family, who not only inspired the story but were part of the cast themselves: her parents, Susan and Jim, and her husband, Eric, each brought life, love, and authenticity to the stage.

It was a pleasure for us to meet Kris and her family — a group whose warmth was felt both on and off the stage. After the show, the gallery was buzzing with connection. Many guests lingered to “stay for dinner,” as Kris affectionately invited, to chit-chat and reflect on how the themes of the play resonated with their own lives.

There was high praise for the family following the performance. Guests shared stories of crawling through dusty storage spaces, throwing out expired fridge items, or being the family tech support for parents who can never quite remember their passwords. Others laughed in recognition at the familiar scenes of family road trips and car games — memories that, though unique in detail, struck a universal chord.

What made Banana Musik so impactful was its ability to hold space for those quiet, often-overlooked dynamics between adult children and their aging parents. Many audience members reflected on how their perspectives have shifted over time: from watching their parents as children in awe, to becoming the caretakers themselves — frustrated at times, but with a deepening understanding that their parents were once young too. They too were navigating life for the first time, making sacrifices, and shaping our childhoods with the love and tools they had.

Kris’s storytelling, grounded in her experience as a Filipina-Canadian daughter of immigrants, beautifully illustrated the richness of cultural nuance while simultaneously affirming the shared experiences that transcend background and identity. Whether or not one grew up in a Filipino household, the emotional heartbeat of Banana Musik — family, memory, gratitude, and care — struck home for everyone in the room.

As the gallery lights dimmed and conversations lingered, one truth remained clear: though we each walk a different path, we are united by the relationships that shape us. And when we choose to see each other — parents, children, friends — through a lens of grace, we open ourselves to deeper compassion, understanding, and connection.

Thank you to Kris Alvarez, Susan, Jim, and Eric for sharing your story so openly and generously. And thank you to our audience, who came with open hearts and made Banana Musik a night to remember.

Presented in partnership with the Prince Albert Arts Board and with support from the City of Prince Albert’s Municipal Cultural Action Plan, this event reminded us once again why live art matters.

We hope to see you at the gallery again soon — and don’t forget to check the fridge. 😉