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The audience will not partake in the meal, but will observe the discussion between Alvarez and her guests.

Her parents will be part of the Sunday performance.

Jim and Susan Alvarez immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in the 1970s. Kris Alvarez was born in Cebu. Their family lived in Toronto before moving to Regina in time for Alvarez to start kindergarten.

She has lived here ever since, barring a decade in Montreal where she met her husband Eric and had two daughters, Zoe and Iris.

Though she has Filipino heritage, even fellow Filipinos don’t recognize it, so her “press release” is geared to them, too.

“As soon as I start it, it’s the same script,” said Alvarez. “You’re making a statement that everyone can understand and digest.”

Filipinos usually guess that one of her parents must be white, or lean on the fact that her father’s ancestors came from Spain. This week, a woman suggested she doesn’t look Filipino because “you’ve been here a long time, so your face has changed.”

White people usually guess that Alvarez is Spanish, Mexican, or “maybe Indian — from India.”

That qualifier is “always very emphasized that ‘I’m not mistaking you for someone who’s Aboriginal,’ ” because they saw it as a bad thing.

While her performance touches on issues like racism and colonialism, “I didn’t want it to be an issue play or a thing where I’m teaching you,” said Alvarez.

It’s about “experiential learning, that people can learn through laughter and a meal and we can slowly break down a bit more of our biases and our racist tendencies.”