Proud : Taking Pride in Canadian Theatre

Photo of Poster. Courtesy of Great Canadian Theatre Company.

Regardless of political persuasion, Ottawa audiences are sure to find Michael Healey’s Proud amusing and thought provoking.

The majority will probably be left shaking their heads that Tarragon Theatre refused to mount the latest play by their long-time playwright-in-residence — who was proud enough to quit after 14 years in the position and mount the play elsewhere. The word was that Tarragon found Proud potentially libelous because it was a satirical view of the current Prime Minister. (Possibly, Tarragon’s cowardice was also prompted by fear of losing government grants, but I digress….)

Written as the third of a trilogy following Generous and Courageous, Proud is set in the Prime Minister’s office just after the 2011 federal election, in which 59 Quebec seats have been swept up in a blue wave, giving the Conservatives a huge majority. In this alternate reality, as in the actual NDP orange crush, the leader is stuck with a mass of rookie MPs.

As novice meets political experience and understanding, trouble is inevitable. Enter the newly elected Jisbella Lyth, a former St-Hubert manager in the fictional town of Cormier-Lac Poule, Quebec. Taking the PM at his word to bring requests directly to him, she asks for a condom because she is about to have a sexual encounter with CBC reporter Evan Solomon. (Despite several references to him, he remains an offstage character in Proud. However, the real Solomon was reported to be in the audience on opening night.)*

The outrageous request firmly establishes that this is a satire. It also becomes clear very quickly that Proud is not intended as a hatchet job on Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Rather, it underlines that political success is founded in compromise and pragmatism. It also throws humanity and humour into the mix. The result is a Shavian-style comedy, touching on Pygmalion as the PM takes the rookie under his wing (and she outsmarts him) and delivering a couple of strong monologues in which he explain his beliefs and non-beliefs, ambitions and the value of self-reliance.

As directed by Miles Potter, performances by Healey, as the PM, Jenny Young as Lyth and Tom Barnett as chief of staff Cary Baines (ultra-partisan and ready to throw himself on his sword for the boss) are highly effective. Healey brings to mind visions of past PMs — John Diefenbaker, in particular — and the pressure of political office in general. Young sparkles as the sexually promiscuous single mother with steel in her soul.

In sections set 18 years later, Drew Moore appears solo as Lyth’s son, Jake. While he performs the role quite effectively, the value of including this dystopian future element is questionable, particularly when one of these segments ends the play. It changes the mood and disrupts the joy of lively interchanges, funny (if often foul-mouthed) encounters and sweetness — perhaps an odd word for a political satire, but there is affection as well as understanding in the writing.

Proud is very definitely a must-see show, especially in a town full of political junkies and politicians.

The GCTC production of Proud continues at the Irving Greenberg Centre to September 29, 2013.

Proud

By Michael Healey

Great Canadian Theatre Company

Director: Miles Potter

Set and costumes: Gillian Gallow

Sound: Lyon Smith

Lighting: Kimberly Purtell

Cast:

The Prime Minister………………………………………Michael Healey

Cary Baines………………………………………………Tom Barnett

Jisbella Lyth………………………………………………Jenny Young

Jake Lyth………………………………………………….Drew Moore

* The real Soloman was in  fact in the audience on opening night. (A.R.)