“It’s as if we’re being shown how the world is fragile, but oh how it twinkles”

Now, more than ever, we’re witnessing the fragility of the world: climate disasters are becoming more frequent, humanity is being divided on seemingly every issue, wars are constantly perpetuated, and the cost of living is progressively going up. Matthew MacKenzie’s latest play, Strife, directed by the incomparable Yvette Nolan, looks at this sense of instability through the eyes of an Indigenous family in Edmonton whose lives have been thrown into turmoil when one of them is brutally murdered. Full of deeply emotional moments and compelling questions, Strife asks its audience and its characters to look inward to find the answers.

Monique works on an oil patch in Fort McMurray, along with her boyfriend Eddie. She’s been looking after her little brother, Nathan, since they were kids, and ever since her Kokum passed away, it’s been just the two of them. Nathan was the first of their family to go off to University; he’s getting his Master’s degree and is a passionate climate activist. But when Nathan’s partner Sarah sends a chilling message to Monique while she’s on the job, Monique’s whole life suddenly stops. Now, she’s on leave from work and is desperately trying to find out who killed her bother, while also attempting to navigate the deep and profound grief she feels.

MacKenzie’s text highlights many issues facing Indigenous communities, particularly in Canada’s prairies. One of them which had me thinking the most after the play was the paradox of the oil industry both hiring a great number of Indigenous people, while also actively destroying and poisoning their land and water. This is one of the main points of contention between Nathan, Monique, and Eddie, which starts out as a “hate the sin, not the sinner” situation, but quickly becomes more of an issue for Nathan as he continues in his studies and activism. Eddie scoffs at the idea of having a job in arts or education rather than working on the patches, but you can tell that Monique struggles more with her brother’s disapproval of her career – despite the fact that her working there has helped keep a roof over both of their heads. This is a question with no solid answer, like many presented in Strife, and yet it is the reality which folks who work in the oil industry confront regularly.

My favourite element of they storytelling is the constant vigilance of the Great Grey Owl. Portrayed by Tracey Nepinak, the Great Grey Owl opens the play, and then keeps watch over the characters throughout, often chiming in despite not being able to be heard. Nepinak gives the owl this great sass and wit, but also a feeling of wisdom and knowledge which has been passed down for generations. Nepinak is never off stage, and actually most of the characters remain on stage and witnessing the rest of the play, even when their characters are not the main focus. This creates a consistent sense of community on stage and how intertwined the lives of these people have become.

Jackie Chau’s set design beautifully encapsulates Strife’s setting, with the streetcar silhouetted by the moon as it trundles over the high level bridge line. In syllabics, is the Cree name for Edmonton, seamlessly fitting itself amongst the pre-existing girders. There are also three tables which can nestle into one another, and are manipulated throughout the play to create the many locales required. Out of Chau’s beautiful costume design, two of them stuck out the most: the winged jacket of the Great Grey Owl, and the beautiful ribbon dress Monique wears at the end of the play.

Teneil Whiskeyjack plays Monique, and it’s remarkable to see the growth we witness in this character be so beautifully portrayed. Jesse Gervais’ Eddie at first feels like someone I would normally avoid getting into a political conversation with, but like Monique, Eddie’s character changes a great deal over the course of the play and Gervais plays him gracefully. Grace Lamarche is a fabulous hipster as Sarah, yet it’s her vulnerability in some of Sarah’s darkest moments which brings tears to our eyes. Michaela Washburn’s Andrea is a caring counsellor, and she brings an air of calm to the more tumultuous moments of the play. Valerie Planche plays Eleanor, Nathan’s professor and mentor. Planche has a powerful stage presence, and gives Eleanor that same sense of power and belonging.

Strife asks audiences to witness this play just as the characters are consistently witnessing it; to hear the complexities and nuances which exist for these people, and to not pass judgement without understanding. The end scenes take place a year after Nathan’s murder, and though not everything has been resolved, the sense of hope and healing which pervades those final moments speaks to the resilience of these characters and the people they represent.

Strife runs in the Tarragon Theatre Extraspace until April 26. For more information and tickets, visit: https://tarragontheatre.com/plays/2025-2026/strife/

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Cover Photo: Tracey Nepinak, Teneil Whiskeyjack. Photo by Jae Yang.

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