A New and Exciting Production from the Greystone Theatre.

What is life? And what gives humans the right to own it? These are the major philosophical and moral questions in Annabel Soutar’s newest play, Seeds. 

This play documents the events of a court case beginning in the 1990s between Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser and the biotechnology  company Monsanto Inc., regarding the genetically-modified crop RoundUp Ready Canola, which Schmeiser was found to have growing within his fields without having bought any from Monsanto or signing  a Technology User Agreement (TUA). 

Soutar incorporates the writing and information-gathering processes within the play, even including herself and her husband as characters, and showcasing her experience with  pregnancy as she was doing her research. She includes accurate quotes from court transcripts and interviews with those involved in the case. This exciting drama starts conversations on the ethics of genetic modification and the usage of patents in the practice.   

You may go into this play believing that either Schmeiser or Monsanto Inc. are correct in this scenario, right? I know I did. However, once I was in the theatre and invested in the court cases and stories that were told, my feelings shifted. Annabel Soutar did an excellent job of placing doubt in the minds of those watching the play, by simply being a good journalist and asking the right questions. Soutar showed how she was given contradictory information from both sides of the conflict, causing the audience to wonder who is really telling the truth and to deeply analyze what is being said and how we, as spectators, began this play with an inherently biased view of who was right and wrong.

Percy Schmeiser, after losing his initial case against Monsanto Inc., went to the Supreme Court of Canada where he fought valiantly once again. He, unfortunately, lost his case in a five to four-decision. This, however, would not stop Schmeiser from speaking up about his experiences with Monsanto Inc. and his negative views of patents on genetically modified genes. Percy Schmeiser passed away in 2020, but his story lives on within the farming and science communities not only in  Saskatchewan, but all over the world, because he had such a gigantic impact on how we analyze patents and ethics in the biotechnology and farming industries. 

The production of Seeds at the Greystone Theater was directed by Ken MacKenzie, one of the professors within the University of Saskatchewan Drama Department, and I can confidently say that he put together an excellent piece. In working with the cast and crew, he was able to take a complicated story of life off of the paper and onto the stage. From the moment the show starts, you are sucked into the world that they created. There was not a single moment that didn’t feel completely natural. 

As for the actors, I would like to give every one of them a pat on the back after watching them on stage. Not only were they all brilliant, but many of them played several characters and had to change from one character to another in mere seconds. If you aren’t an actor, you may not completely understand how much it can take for some people to fully get into the mind and body of one character before going on stage, not to mention doing it on stage in a very short amount of time. Scott Eaton, who played Percy Schmeiser, channelled his inner Saskatchewan farmer when acting in this role. He truly embodied Schmeiser’s struggle against Monsanto Inc., while also depicting the things he was still happy with in his life regardless of the adversities. Jasmine Keck, who played the playwright who walks the audience through the story as she does her interviews and research for this play, fully portrayed her character, even in her pregnant walk. Finally, Cadence Brehaut, who played the Monsanto Inc. lawyer, expressed her points clearly. She stated her lines clearly and concisely, exactly as a lawyer would before a courtroom. And these are just a few of the main characters in the cast. All of the actors who appeared on stage for this production are current drama students who are working towards careers within the arts and it’s evident that their work is paying off. 

The costuming by Beverley Kobelsky, lighting by Katie Bleckburn-Dust and sound by Carlos Martinex created the optimal world for the actors to act in . There were plenty of projections of videos that were made by Monsanto Inc. to advertise their products as well as their company in general. The set, which included  the silhouette of a barn towards the back of the stage, was made out of recycled materials and perfectly encompassed  the artistic yet rustic vibe that they were going for. Each of the characters wore clothes that were appropriate for their careers or for the circumstances that they were in during the scenes.  

Overall, this play was extremely well put together. From the writing, to the acting and the set, everything was deliberately chosen to create a world that captivated everyone in attendance . The audience members didn’t need to fully understand much about farming or the science fields to enjoy the story and sympathize with each of the characters. Seeds tell the story of the trial between Percy Schmeiser and Monsanto Inc. in a way that is unbiased and simply states facts and quotes actual things from interviews and court cases word for word. On top of this, the actors had to learn their lines accurately because they were quoting actual things people said, and they did an amazing job of remembering what to say and do. It’s clear that everyone who was a part of this production did their absolute best to do this story justice and it paid off in the end.
The Greystone Theater puts on four shows every year, one of which is a show just for students in first or second year level drama classes. As for the others, students taking any level of drama class are able to audition. However, students who are attempting to finish their degree in drama are prioritized as it is a requirement within their program. The next show in the Greystone Theater will be The Women of The Fur Trade by Frances Koncan and it will be directed by Deneh’Cho Thompson. The production will be from November 21st to the 24th so make sure you keep an eye out for ticket sales if you are interested in supporting the USask Drama Department and getting to see some excellent theater.