Proud: The play

Stephen Harper private life is exactly that, private. Proud by Michael Healey portrays what might happen behind closed doors. Jisbella Lyth is a rookie Conservative MP from a fictional Quebec – where the 59 seats won by the NDP – were won by the Conservatives. An obvious comparison to NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, a rookie not expected to win in the 2011 federal election.

I love going into any entertainment blind and without expectation. I only found out about the play while getting a soy-cappuccino at Across The Board café in the Exchange 10-minutes before showtime. I bumped into Jane Testar a local celebrity of sorts who gave me the low down.

Lyth played by Daria Puttaert a seemingly one-dimensional rookie-MP was unexpectedly voted into the House of Commons. I believe that was the point. I liked her role. She played a sexually open woman, not afraid to have her own opinions, especially towards the fictionalized prime minister.

Ross McMillan’s portrayal of the prime minister was dead-on. His body language, speech, and his socially awkward character is exactly what I would expect.

His underhanded manipulation of the Canadian people is exactly what you could expect of the shenanigans that we have seen in the real world. Farcical!

Eric Blais played the PM’s Chief of Staff Cary Baines. Typical of the politics of today he knew his time was limited. He was ready to fall at any moment for his fearless leader.

After the play the actors and director had a talkback session. It allowed us, the audience, to understand the actors’ personal experiences, methods and thoughts behind their decisions brought to the stage. The talkback is definitely additive to the play.

I would suggest anyone with an open mind to see Proud. It was money well spent.