In 1985, Brooke Johnson was a 23-year-old student at the National Theatre School in Montreal.
Pierre Trudeau, 65, was a longtime lawyer, intellectual and activist, not to mention the recently-divorced former prime minister of Canada.
The two had very little in common – or at least it seemed – yet they struck up the most unlikely of friendships on the dance floor at a gala in Montreal.
Trudeau Stories, on stage now at Theatre Orangeville, relays the remarkable tale of their 15-year platonic friendship.
Since its premiere in Toronto in 2007, the one-woman production has since played in over 40 venues across the country to about 20,000 people.
Johnson, understandably, is in awe of Trudeau during their first encounter; and yet she seems surprisingly comfortable with him. Whether it’s her unabashed honesty or her self-deprecating humour, something about the young student immediately catches the attention of the worldly former PM.
Through journal entries, letters and memories, Johnson expertly guides the audience through her relationship with Trudeau, aided by an impassioned onstage physicality, great pop culture references and some timely musical/audio accompaniments.
Though the tales in Trudeau Stories are uncharted territory for most of us, there’s an unmistakable sense of nostalgia that permeates throughout the entire production.
Not unlike the real-life experience of the playwright/star herself, the audience is at once in awe of and immediately comfortable with the subject matter, however unexpected it may seem.
While seemingly from different worlds, it’s obvious Johnson and Trudeau share a wry sense of humour as well as an appreciation of the theatre, poetry and the great outdoors.
Directed by Allyson McMackon, the play is perfectly timed at 75 minutes with no intermission. At times humorous and at others touching and emotional, it is a poignant glimpse into an unexpected relationship that forever changes Johnson’s life.
Though the play may hold special appeal for the history buffs among us, one doesn’t have to be a historian to appreciate it.
After all, it’s a story about friendship, about love and loss, and about the journey to understanding oneself and the world around us. In that way, it’s something to which everyone can relate.
Trudeau Stories plays five shows a week until March 4. For tickets call 519-942-3423 or 1-800-424-1295 or visit www.theatreorangeville.ca.
