Play Review: ‘I Inherited the Harvest’ and ‘At Sun’s Last Breath’

At the New Work’s Festival, University of Alberta student playwrights are not afraid to get dark. And they do a great job. The festival is student-led, featuring student written, directed, designed, and produced performances. The New Works Festival’s first matinée show featured I Inherited the Harvest and At the Sun’s Last Breath. 

I Inherited the Harvest by Josh Greyvenstein

I Inherited the Harvest is a cautionary tale warning that success does not come without suffering. Written by Josh Greyvenstein and directed by Nathaniel Tesfaye and Robertson Wickins, the story takes place in a small town where prosperity for the townsfolk comes at a great cost — human sacrifice. Individuals are chosen based on the premise of “God’s will” dictating who will be the unlucky ones that loses their lives in reward for harvest. Overall, the premise is intriguing. It’s uncomfortable, and mirrors a cult-like atmosphere.      

The tension unfolds between characters who pretend all is well, and characters who question the bizarre system. The quote spoken on stage “sometimes things need to be said, but not heard,” encapsulates a key theme of the play. It shows that opinions are only acceptable when kept to oneself. Audience members follow the journey of Tabby (Alina Vuorinen) as she and her brother Daniel (Andreas Schroeder) are woven into the system. The plot is ambiguous. It comments on our current capitalistic society, questioning the true value of money, and possessions. But unfortunately, there were many additional plot elements that were confusing. Many things were only vaguely explained, and many plot-points were being shown at the same time. Making it hard to keep up with the story, and leaving certain aspects unclear. 

One highlight of the production was the costume design. It accurately reflected the conservative and historic tones of the story. And the makeup was notable too, as they applied it inconspicuously in moments of on-stage violence. It showcased how sinister the story became in its final moments. While the ending was very emotional, it continued the pattern of doing too much at once, and failed to tie up loose ends. It seemed the play was trying to make a philosophical statement, and I wish I could have better understood it. “Perfect” family dynamics, capitalism, and Christianity were all trying to be criticized at the same time — causing convolution. While the shock-factor and portrayal of emotions are used accordingly, explanations are absent most of the time. 

However, the overall highlight was the performances of the cast. Vuorinen and Schroeder communicated exactly what their characters were feeling to the audience via one simple look or glance. And Sofia Echeverria, who plays Casey, gives an excellent cathartic experience. As actors yell on stage, initiate fights, and betray one another, overall character dynamics produce strong emotions. 

It’s safe to say that this is a play that lingers in your mind long after you’ve seen it, as it’s not afraid to get uncomfortable with its dark themes, or make you question what you are seeing on stage. Though lacking clarity, its plot was still interesting, and definitely kept audiences engaged at all times. 

At the Sun’s Last Breath by Madeline Pudlubny

In suit of darker subjects, At the Sun’s Last Breath was also a memorable experience. Written by Madeline Pudlubny and directed by Kalen Sabasch and Ethan Lachance, it follows four separate sets of characters who must all cope with one reality – the end of the universe. However, while I Inherited the Harvest was overly complicated, this show was too simple. The play featured a family, two female friends, a gamer, and a couple. Throughout the performance, all of them are dealing with their own tension and conflict.

However, all characters have one thing in common, bonding over love and connection during their final moments before the sun burns out. Because the plot establishes itself early on, emphasis is placed on chemistry and dialogue between characters. While performances did not disappoint, the story suffered from generality and cliché. Characters disagree with each other but ultimately reconcile. The end message of showing gratitude and love for others is not something audiences haven’t seen before. Normally this would be forgiven if the script or characterizations were excellent, however they too were hindered by simplicity, and predictability. 

The cast, on the other hand, did not disappoint. The beauty through this production was that each cast member had their moment to shine. Audience members watched characters push aside their pride and differences to unite together one last time. The performances helped a simple story be better than average. 

The final scene of the play was the most impressive. All actors shared the stage at the same time, yet performed in pairs as if isolated, creating high intensity. Performances and dialogues overlapped as the lights flickered — signalling the nearing of the end. The last lines of each character fell along the lines of “I love you” as the room went dark; a bittersweet ending to a tragedy. While the ending was cliché, the cast did a good job at putting on a fun show that ended in a satisfying way. 

While both plays had their faults, seeing actors perform their hearts out made the festival a good time. This year’s shows were certainly worth seeing.