Reasonable Doubt shines spotlight on Colten Boushie tragedy
- NC Raine | January 31, 2020
Five years ago, playwright and journalist Joel Bernbaum set out to create something that would speak to the issues inherent in the fabric of his home province of Saskatchewan.
“I had done a play in Victoria about homeless, and thought about what would be the most important issue to tackle next: the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. There's nothing more important here in Saskatchewan,” Bernbaum told Eagle Feather News.
After receiving a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Bernbaum began conducting interviews with a diverse range of people from around the province on race, tensions, and relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Then, in 2016, the Colten Boushie killing dramatically changed the racial and social climate in Saskatchewan. That defining moment is what led to Reasonable Doubt – a documentary play, commissioned by the Persphone Theatre, with live music created from actual interviews with individuals around the province, as well as transcripts from the Gerald Stanley trial for the murder of Colten Boushie.
“Before the Boushie tragedy happened, the interviews were interesting, but people were speaking very politely, more from a headspace. Then the tragedy happened, and the interviews really changed. People were speaking with raw honesty. They were speaking from the heart,” said Bernbaum.
Bernbaum, alongside his co-creators, director Yvette Nolan, and musician Lancelot Knight, shaped their documentary-play from more than 60 unique Saskatchewan voices from nearly 300 interviews.
“If we've done our job right, when you come to see the play, you'll see two things: you'll see your own opinion, but you'll also see an opinion you've never thought of before,” said Bernbaum. “If you just go to see your own opinion then you haven't moved down the path of understanding the world around you.”
One of the challenges in crafting the play was to weave music throughout based on the interview transcripts. Lancelot Knight said his score – which includes rock, folk, and ambient music – provides another dimension to the words, which are often tragic or difficult to hear.
“I would read the words and let them impact me, then try to convert that feelings to music,” said Knight. “Music brings a new element to process what's been said. Someone said to me that the music helped them to get through it when they didn't want to listen.”
Knight said writing the music became easier after the Boushie tragedy because of how emotionally charged the interviews became.
“Everyone took their filters off and started saying how they felt. It was stuff you already knew, though, being an Indigenous person. But it was a reaffirmation of that,” said Knight. “I hope it propels people to talk and listen to one another.”
During the development of the play, the creators felt it important to reach out to the families of both Colten Boushie and Gerald Stanley. The Boushie family was very open to connecting, said Bernbaum, and have attended three readings, consulted with the play's creators, and plan to attend opening night.
“Colten's (mother and uncle) have said 'we stand behind you'. She said 'I want you to take this play across the country',” said Bernbaum.
The Stanley family have not responded to invites, but Bernbaum said they are very welcome to attend.
With this play so close to so many in the province, and with racial tensions still very much unresolved, Bernbaum said he hopes the play can be a catalyst for change.
“The tragedy and the trial not only exposed racism, but created more racism. But when these things come to the surface, it's an opportunity,” said Bernbaum. “That's why I think art is important, because it can provide us a catalyst, a space to come together and discuss how we want to live together.”
Reasonable Doubt will be performed live at Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon, January 29- February 12.