| Women of the Fur Trade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Frances Koncan |
| Directed by | Audrey Dwyer |
| Characters | Marie-Angelique, Eugenia, Cecelia, Louis Riel, Thomas Scott (Orangeman) |
| Date premiered | 2020 |
| Place premiered | Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre |
| Subject | Red River Resistance |
Women of the Fur Trade is a play by written by Frances Koncan about the Métis-led Red River Resistance against European colonisers. It premiered in 2020.
Production
The play is written by Frances Koncan of Couchiching First Nation. [1]
2020 production
In the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre's [2] 2020 production that ran at the Warehouse Theatre, Cecelia was played by Liz Whitbread, Marie-Angelique was played by Kathleen MacLean, and Eugenia was played by Kelsey Kanatan Wavey. [1] John Cook plays Louis Riel and Toby Hughes plays Thomas Scott. [3]
Audrey Dwyer directed. [1]
Synopsis
Women of the Fur Trade is set in one room of a fort in Red River during the 19th century Red River Resistance. [2] It features three women who discuss their perspectives on the changing world around them, European influence, the fur trade and the Métis leader Louis Riel. [1] The three characters are Métis women Marie-Angelique; an Ojibwe Manitoban trapper, Eugenia; and a European settler, Cecelia. [2] Marie-Angelique is a strong supporter of Louis Riel, Cecelia has a romantic crush on Thomas Scott, who is killed by Riel, and Eugenia cares for no men. [2] The narration switches between 19th and 21st century language and perspectives, as the women talk about men, the relationships between Indigenous peoples and European settlers. [1]
The play incorporates comedic elements. [3]
Critical reception
Women of the Fur Trade won the Toronto Fringe Festival Best New Play award in 2018. [1] Journalist Stephanie Cram, reviewing the play for the CBC described it as a "fun and clever" look at Manitoba's history. [2] Ian Ross of the Winnipeg Free Press described the play as "a timely, provocative piece of theatre written from a perspective and voice we need to hear." [3]
See also
- North American fur trade
- Bug, 2018 play by Yolanda Bonnell
References
- ^ a b c d e f Stranger, Darrell (2020-03-02). "Life, love and Louis Riel: New play Women of the Fur Trade opens in Winnipeg". APTN News. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ^ a b c d e Cram, Stephanie (28 Feb 2020). "History, humour and a dash of Keanu Reeves: Women of the Fur Trade a fun, clever look at Red River Resistance". CBC.
- ^ a b c Ross, Ian (27 Feb 2020). "Feb 2020: Women are the Riel deal in comedic drama that puts a modern spin on Manitoba's past". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2022-08-06.