AN INTENSE, DANGEROUS TALE
Vigilante tells story of Black Donnellys
It’s a black musical befitting the infamous family at the centre of the story, The Black Donnellys.
Vigilante, by Edmonton’s Catalyst Theatre, described as “sexy, dangerous and intense” by the Journal, is not for the faint of heart, says Jan Alexandra Smith, who plays the matriarch Johannah Donnelly.
“It’s dangerous, it’s ghostly,” says Smith. “We are essentially the ghosts of the Donnellys who have come back to tell their side of the story.”
The showed premièred in Edmonton in 2015 and is on tour. The first stop was in London, Ont., essentially where the real story of the Donnellys played out. The parents emigrated from Ireland and homesteaded in the Lucan area. They feuded with neighbours, trading incidents of vandalism and arson. Not every crime was petty. The patriarch James spent seven years in Kingston Penitentiary for murdering a fellow settler with a spike.
Some 20 years after, the parents, two sons and a niece were murdered and burned in their home by a vigilante group. No one was ever convicted.
Vigilante isn’t the official biography of the Donnellys but it was endorsed by the curator of the local museum, says Smith.
“He came to see our show in London and he said afterward he had to go home and he had to sit for an hour to decompress because he couldn’t speak because he felt we had managed to capture the essence of the family, the essence of the tragedy, the sadness of it all.”
For Smith, the show is a career highlight. The cast is as much a family offstage. And the role of Johannah is unmatched.
“What’s wonderful about her strength is that it helps her to survive and it helps her boys to survive the heartache they eventually have to face. But that strength turns into an anger, it turns into a rage. And it’s a rage that she instils into her sons and we get to see this family on a pretty tragic journey, and Johanna leads the charge.
“It’s without question, without question, one of my most favourite roles in a 30-year career. And if this is the last role I ever play on stage, I will retire a very happy woman, and I mean that sincerely.”
Despite differences between the theatrical version and real life, what’s true for both is the fierce loyalty the Donnellys have for each other, Smith added.
"They’re tough, tough people. Don’t get on the wrong side of the Donnellys. I can tell you that if you get on the wrong side of the Donnellys you’ll lose but you’ll have to come see the show if you want to know the verity of that statement.” Persephone Theatre presents Vigilante by Catalyst Theatre March 1 to 15
Tickets: $32 to $46
Box Office: 306.384.7727, persephonetheatre.org