Jake’s Gift: A moving and superbly interpreted encounter between three generations facing memories of WW II.
Photo: Tim Matheson
A thoughtful and sensitive colllaboration between lone performer, Julia Mackey and director Dirk Van Stralen has produced a more than memorable performance dealing with the 60th anniversary of the bloody events of the D-Day landings on the shores of Juno Beach in Normandy, France. While revisiting the precise spot where it all took place, Jake a crusty old veteran , incarnated by the actor, limps onto the stage and begins this luminous encounter. Playing both the old fellow who feels guilty for not returning to see the remains of his brother since he was killed during the invasion, and 10 year old Isabelle, a strongwilled imaginary young French girl, Julia Mackey opens an incredible healing process for those who are suffering as both characters meet on the beach where a touching friendship developes. .
Director Dirk Van Stralen has put the actor in the foreground, refusing to distract us with news reels, or images from the period, or journalistic sound effects or violent lighting. Julia Mackey stands alone at the centre, looking straight into our eyes, facing us like a proudly defiant young woman and a talented actress. Dressed in a gender ambiguous cap and pants, she easily and smoothly transforms herself from the
chatty and forthcoming ten your old Isabelle to the old man swearing his way across the stage. It happens so easily that our suspension of disbelief is intact and we are easily engulfed by the French sea coast bathed in painful memories , as the veterans, the Canadian families of the fallen men, as well as the local French inhabitants and all the visitors mingle along the coast. .
Suddenly there is bright eyed Isabelle with her awkward body and glowing smile throwing out all her warmth to this annoyed and guiltridden elderly gentleman trying to locate his brothers tomb but strangely brought down to earth by the friendly banter of this child who is genuinely fascinated by Canada, by red maple leaves, buy the Burlington Teen tour band and by the Canadian Veterans who saved all their lives.
Most touching moments, when Jake, standing alone in the dark, slowly and painfully pulls on his ceremonial jacket with all the medals, or the moments his face freezes with repressed grief when Isabelle drops a comment that reminds him of his brother. Such a situation of theatre tinged with sadness and humour, draws us deeply into the memories of the past and become a much more effective way to capture the essence of these traumatic events, than a straightforward description or reenactment. Mackey somehow incarnates history and all the emotion it involves, and something of her performance still clings to us as we leave the theatre. The actress in fact, defines a “place of memory”, a “lieu de mémoire” that historian Pierre Nora has so carefully discussed in his writings. Those memories that we are morally obligated to retain as a tribute to the past, the ones that define the national identities as they become entrenched in the symbols of a nation. No cheap sentimentality here, no playing on emotions no blaming the enemy. Isabelle is a naively toughminded little creature and Jake is not always pleasant but she eases his sorrow and the contrast between the strongwilled, positive young girl and the older man were the perfect strategy to make it happen
Julia Mackey and director Van Stralen, working in close collaboration created this unforgettable “place of memory” that will certainly leave its mark on Canadians. The show is crossing the country in both languages as it certainly should and I would suggest you see this before it leaves Ottawa. It lasts 65 minutes.
Jak’s Gift plays in English until October 29, It plays in French on November 10 to 12. at the GCTGC. show time is 8pm
Written and performed by Julia Mackey
Directed by Dirk Van Stralen
Lighting by Gerald King
Translater Gilles Poulin-Denis