Women of the Fur Trade

by Frances Koncan

In eighteen hundred and something something, somewhere upon the banks of a Reddish River in Treaty One Territory, three very different women with a preference for twenty-first century slang sit in a fort sharing their views on life, love, and the hot nerd Louis Riel. Marie-Angelique, a Metis Taurus, is determined to woo Louis (a Metis Libra)—who will be arriving soon—by sending him boldly flirtatious letters. Eugenia, an Ojibwe Sagittarius, brings news of rebellion back to the fort after trading, but isn’t impressed by Louis’s true mediocre na- ture. And Cecilia, a pregnant British Virgo, is anxiously waiting on her husband’s return from an expedition, but can’t resist pining over the heartthrob Thomas Scott (Irish Capricorn), who is actually the one secretly responding to Marie-Angelique’s letters. This will all go smoothly, right? This lively historical satire of survival and cultural in- heritance shifts perspectives from the male gaze onto women’s power in the past and present through the lens of the rapidly changing world of the Canadian fur trade.

Genres: Indigenous, Plays, Theatre, Canada, Fiction, Drama

96 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2022

Reviews

[Alan (on December semi-hiatus) Teder · Rating 5 out of 5]

March 8, 2024 Update As mentioned below, a filmed performance of Women of the Fur Trade from the 2023 Stratford Festival is now available for viewing at the StratFest@Home Streaming Channel which does require membership, although you can join for a free 30 day trial.
A free trailer is available to watch on YouTube here.
A free behind-the-scenes documentary with director Yvette Nolan is available to watch here.


Métis, like me. Hot.
Review of the Playwrights Canada Press paperback edition (February 2022) of the original script as premiered at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (February 2020)

"My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back." - quote attributed to Métis leader Louis Riel (1844-1885), as used in the play "Women of the Fur Trade."

I saw the thrilling final performance of Women of the Fur Trade at its 2023 Stratford Festival production in July in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. The audience was especially raucous and made for an extra entertaining theatrical experience. There were several elements which made me curious to know to what extent they existed in the written script and/or whether they were created or improvised during the production. So I just had to read the printed playscript as well.


The stage set of the 2023 Stratford Festival production of "Women of the Fur Trade." Several dozen portraits hang from the ceiling in addition to the ones later projected or used on stage.

Women of the Fur Trade is a historical fantasy which mostly takes place in a room within a fort during the Red River Resistance (1869-1870) and later. The 3 principles are an Indigenous woman, a Metis woman and a Scots settler woman. There is no escape from the room with walls which are covered in paintings of men. The women obsess over Louis Riel and Thomas Scott (1842-1870) and letters to and from them keep appearing. In other scenes, Riel and Scott themselves interact until their friendship breaks down, leading to Scott's execution at the hands of Riel and eventually Riel's own execution at the hands of the Canadian government. I stress the "fantasy" element as it all takes place with 21st century vernacular and cultural references, and major elements are not true (especially a friendship between Riel and Scott). The spirit of it is "true" regardless, and it is quite a unique way to communicate Canadian history as you'll be compelled to research the real-life story.

"He shall die though every dog in Quebec bark in his favour." - quote about the execution of Louis Riel, attributed to Canadian Prime Minister John A. Macdonald (1815-1891), as used in the play "Women of the Fur Trade."

The cast of the 2024 Stratford Festival production acknowledging the lighting and sound booth technicians at the conclusion of “Women of the Fur Trade”.

It is difficult to separate my feelings about the live production from that on the printed page. Although not all the specifics are detailed, the script allows for the cast and production to extend and express themselves. Thus a stage direction such as "RIEL and SCOTT get in a stick gun-fight. It starts out silly but grows increasingly serious. There's lots of ad-libbing." became an extended fight sequence that went from wooden sticks to an imagined Star Wars light-saber duel to a Matrix-like "bullet-time" slow-mo pantomime. A stage direction such as "Marie-Angelique... continues ripping portraits off the wall... after a few moments Eugenia joins" became a fierce knockout attack on the surrounding patriarchy portraits, including one action possibly in tribute to Sinead O'Connor, who had passed only a few days previously (that might have been a one-off for this Finale performance).

Entertaining and provocative on the page, but especially so if you can see it live!

Trivia and Links
Women of the Fur Trade will have its next performances January 17-27, 2024 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Canada. For more information see here.

The 2023 Stratford Festival production of Women of the Fur Trade was filmed and will likely be a Pay-Per-View stream sometime in 2024. Watch for updates and or notices at the Stratford Festival and its YouTube channel.

[Matthew Boylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

To be honest, I went into this with low expectations, but left pleasantly surprised.
It's sarcastic, witty, and ironic—whilst also being quite poignant.
Satirical, full of generic platitudes employed ironically, with a distinctly modern voice set in "1880-something". A few good 4th wall breaks. Made me laugh out loud multiple times.

I'll end this with the best quote from Louis Riel's final letter,

“My wife, Marguerite, so hot, and I love her an appropriate amount for the time period.”

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

was excited for hamlet. this is what we got to read instead. i’m lowkey traumatized from the second hand embarrassment i got while reading this, and the star signs really tipped it over the edge.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever, satirical look at a brief moment in time connected to Louis Riel. I'd like to see this performed.

[Nadia Mageau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew I'd read more than one stage play this year!? Not at all comparable to Cardinal's As You Like It, except that they are both evocative and impressively satirical.

Koncan tells the story of the Red River Rebellion through the narratives of three women: Marie-Angélique (Métis Taurus), Cecilia (British Virgo), and Eugenia (Ojibwe Sagittarius).

READ IT (or watch it)!!!

[grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel like this definitely translates better on stage but it was fun

[Stephanie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! I didn’t know what to expect going in but I loved this, so much fun and with a very important to message to everyone.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another entry in my immersion into the world of First Nations, Metis and Inuit literature as I prepare to teach my course in the fall. In this case, this is a play, performed several times include at the Stratford Festival in 2020.

The story happens at the key moment of Louis Riel's arrival at the Red River colony in 1869, at least, as far as one can nail down a time. The characters are, primarily, the Ojibwe Eugenia, the Metis Marie-Angelique and the white Cecilia- three women associated with the fur trade, but also with events as they lead up to the Red River Resistance. The focus is, as the title would suggest, on the women, as they interrelate in the intersection of race and gender.

The result is very funny, especially because the character's knowledge (and hence allusions) range all over history until now. There's a noticeable absurdist feel to the play, but it also packs a political punch. It is definitely worth reading and considering.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this if you like any of the following:

a) witty, quick dialogue
b) portraiture cannibalism
c) endearing female leads with growth and depth of character
d) the sexiness of louis riel and his mustache ("i am strong man. hear me roar.")
e) a submissive cyrano-ing thomas scott (irish yet a colonizer? interesting choices tommy!)
f) a comprehensive and linear understanding of canadian history (i'm serious!)
f) just amazing storytelling

[Another Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, timely (while still taking place in the 18-something somethings) , and compelling. I don't know if I'll be able to make it out to Stratford again this summer to see it live, but I really want to and am glad to have read it.

[Ben Scanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accomplishes the near-impossible task of introducing an abstract idea immediately that remains engaging and comprehensible throughout its length, all while compounding further into its meaning. So a million hell yeahs over here for that, that’s some literary wizardry.

[Mya Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I had to read this for history. Surprisingly it was kind of interesting, though I’m not entirely sure what was happening. It kind of reminded me of a mix between Supine Cobbler and Plano from last semester in English.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good play! Would have loved to see it on stage, it's been a great read and spurred great discussions with friends.

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful

[beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

wasn’t what i thought it’d be but i still really enjoyed it.

[Jada · Rating 2 out of 5]

i mean, i read it?
it was funny.
2.5/5

[Jill Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny, quick, and interesting read.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this for my Canadian theatre class, I’m glad I did!

[kp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hilarious, and I'd love to see it on stage.

[Rebecca Ubhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went in with low expectations but this made me LOL quite a few times.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A postmodern play about the Red River Resistance. I could imagine a lot of Winnipeggers wearing Keep It Riel shirts as they go to see this play at the Fringe Festival.

[aliyah :] · Rating 4 out of 5]

they yassified louis riel

[Aaron Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun and amusing—a bit in the style of Jaclyn Backhaus—but I wanted it to get serious at some point, and it didn't feel like it ever did.

[Abbie Postma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this play, better then Macbeth. It’s was funny and had some cute romance, but the end is a little confusing.
If this play were to ever come to Toronto, I would go see it.

[Meara · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid english class book/ play. was really funny to have to see classmates read some of these lines out loud.

[Louey · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — 5

Play #4

I wish I could’ve watched this at the studio theatre. Thanks Abby for always keeping me in supply with plays. This was so creative and funny while talking about some important topics.

[Ashtin Pilon]

Did not expect this

So I was forced to read this for an english class I had in Cegep. I thought I would enjoy it because I'm a huge fan of plays and musicals. But I did not expect to like it that much. As a Canadian, I did not know much about Louis Riel and Thomas Scott. Mainly because whenever someone told me the story, it was boring. But this play transcript made it so entertaining. And adding the women of the fur trade into it. It was amazing. I loved how they played with time and modern events and lingo. If you want a comedic way to learn about this history. This book is the perfect way to read it. It took me 2 hours to read fully, and im probably going to read it again.

[Jaysri Thevi · Rating 4 out of 5]

and they say trios don’t last🙄