FINDING HUMOUR AMID HURT
Satire explores fractured relations
Who knew the relationship between Canada and her Indigenous people could be so fun?
Yes, fun. Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion, the new play commissioned by the National Arts Centre in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary, unpacks the issues that divide us in a smart, punchy production bolstered by sharp satire, a quirky musical score and a cast that displays near-perfect comedic timing.
Written by playwright Drew Hayden Taylor, who is no stranger to standup comedy, the play goes to the root of the country’s fractured relations, starting more than 150 years ago with Sir John A. Macdonald and a quest for Confederation that was evidently fuelled by alcohol. In an entirely suitable, over-thetop acting job by Martin Julien, Canada’s first prime minister is depicted as a red-nosed windbag with a loathing for Americans and a desire to civilize the natives. How anyone could prefer a “half-cooked frog” over a cup of fine British tea is beyond him.
Directed by Jim Millan, the play’s setting alternates between Macdonald’s 19th-century world of fine crystal and copious amounts of spirits, and the present day, when a young Indigenous man is growing frustrated by life on the reserve. For Bobby Rabbit, played by Darrell Dennis, the angst stems from a promise made to his late grandfather to bring his grandmother’s medicine bundle home. Like many sacred Indigenous artifacts, it ended up in a museum in England.
Stymied by the chief, Bobby turns to his pal, Hugh, for support. A familiar face in NAC productions, Herbie Barnes has a winner in his portrayal of Hugh, the odd but lovable storyteller character of their First Nations community. He’s the sensitive, artistic type, unemployed, who kicks things off singing What I Like About Hugh (to the tune of The Romantics’ What I Like About You) in a tie-dye T-shirt and rock-star wig.
Similar musical gags recur throughout the play, each time with an instantly recognizable tune that lights the place up, the earworm made even shinier by Barnes’ charisma (although not necessarily his singing voice). There’s also some lively original music composed by Moe Berg, who once led the Canadian rockers, The Pursuit of Happiness.
Bobby comes up with a plan to drive to Kingston and recruits Hugh, who would rather stay for the free hotdogs at the Canada 150 barbecue on the rez, but reluctantly decides to accompany his friend on this “Sojourn of Justice.” He has no idea at first that the plan involves digging up Sir John A.’s grave to trade the first prime minister’s bones for the medicine bundle.
Along the way, they meet the fourth member of the cast, the opinionated Anya, at a roadside McDonald’s and agree to give her a ride home to Kingston. Ottawa’s Katie Ryerson is terrific in the role of the jilted history major who is always up for a debate on social issues — or a song-and-dance number.
In the dialogue between Bobby and Anya, the play addresses such weighty topics as racism, feminism, colonization and the lingering effects of the residential school system with passion as well as a growing sense of mutual understanding as the two characters become friends.
While it’s often difficult territory, with anger and revenge being as much a part of the story as oppression and privilege, Taylor’s script balances the material with context, perspective and, as mentioned, a refreshing dose of humour. Interactions between Hugh and Anya, for example, provide some laugh-out-loud moments, particularly when bear spray is involved.
Thanks to the musical numbers and the dual timeline, the pace is generally snappy, although the first act felt a bit long, burdened by one or two too many monologues from the blustery Sir John A.
At the end of the road trip, amid the creeping mist of a darkened graveyard, Bobby finds himself face-to-face with the architect of his people’s misery, channelling his anger in an impassioned speech that ultimately rings with triumph. Don’t be distracted by Macdonald’s wisecracks or the final musical number; the take-away here lies in Bobby’s words to the first prime minister: “We survived you.”
Acknowledging that brings us a step closer to restoring harmony.