Greystones theaters newest production.

Women of The Fur Trade is a unique play by Frances Koncan that shines a light on the power that women have had in history and still do today, by turning the lens from that of the male gaze to the female gaze. 

This funny and satirical play uses language from the 21st century to express and show events from the past, making them easier to understand and engage with for any audience, which is extremely important when creating a piece based around a historical event. The audience must be able to understand what is going on, and therefore there needs to be a balance between the physical actions happening on stage, the setting that the tech team builds in the theater and with how the play is written. 

The fur trade is an important part of Canadian history. After France and Britain colonized the land of the Indigenous and First Nations Peoples who lived here and thus had an inherent right to the land, a fashion craze started in Europe that caused hats made of beaver fur to be in high demand, prompting the fur trade. The Indigenous people of Canada and the French began to make deals, with the French trading some of their goods for the furs that Indigenous people had obtained from hunting. Then, the British created The Hudson Bay Company to get in on the fur trade as well, causing the French, the British and the Indigenous peoples to fight for control of the fur trade. The frequent interactions between Indigenous peoples and Europeans, particularly French people, gave rise to the birth of Métis individuals. The Métis people have backgrounds of both Indigenous and European cultures. 

Louis Riel is an influential Métis man who grew up in the Red River Settlement in Saint-Boniface. His father was a businessman and a political leader in Red River against the Hudson Bay Company. Riel, likely following in his fathers footsteps, left to study in Quebec. In 1869, Hudson Bay Company agreed to sell the North-Western Territory to the Dominion of Canada. The Métis, who were understandably resistant to this, created the Métis National Committee in order to protect Métis people in the North-West, including Red River. Louis Riel, being as intelligent as he’s thought to have been , became its secretary and later its president. They prevented the surveyors from entering the territory and invited individuals to discuss terms on which they would allow Canadian authority into the North West. Riel would have a critical role in fighting for the rights of Métis people in Canada and resisting the Canadian government, before  he would ultimately be put on trial and later executed in Regina, Saskatchewan.  

Women of the Fur Trade is made directly in relation to these events, referencing and telling the audience about what happened and why it was important. The play follows three women who have extremely different personalities, experiences and goals. Marie-Angelique is a Métis woman who is determined to woo Louis Riel, who will be arriving soon. She tries to flatter him by sending him bold and flirtatious letters, trying to grab his attention. The next woman is Eugenia, an Ojibwe woman who brings news when coming back from trading, but is truly not impressed by Louis Riel and what she deems to be his mediocre nature. Finally, there is Cecilia,a pregnant British woman who is waiting for her husband to return from an expedition but can’t resist developing feelings for an Irish man named Thomas Scott.

This play is jam packed with drama and hilarious jokes while still teaching and showing the audience about the roles of women in history, which are often overlooked within our history books. Through the play, we are able to see into the historical perspective of Indigenous Peoples of the time. Learning more about our history as Canadians and working towards reconciliation in our everyday lives is vital, and in going to a play like this, the audience can gain perspective and connect more with the events because there is less separation between the events and the individuals played by actors that we see experiencing the events.

Women of the Fur Trade is directed by Deneh’Cho Thompson, a professor in the University of Saskatchewan Department of Drama. He put together the cast and, as director, was tasked with guiding  them to create the best show that they can. All cast members are USask Drama students, so they are gaining performance experience through doing this show while providing the audience with an entertaining experience. The design team consisted of: Carla Oroz, who worked on set design; Beverley Kobelsky, who was in charge of costume design; Patrick Lomas, tasked with sound design; and Ken Mackenzie, who managed lighting design. By going to see  Women of the Fur Trade, you are not only getting a chance to gain more knowledge about the history of the land we live in and entertainment for an evening, but you are also supporting the countless students and staff in the Drama Department who have worked countless hours to put together this theater piece. 

Shows will be in the John Mitchell building on the University of Saskatchewan campus from November 2nd to the 24th, so make sure to get tickets if you haven’t already.  You can buy them online or in person at the box office inside the John Mitchell building for $17.00. I highly encourage you to go see it and support the artists in our community.