7:30pm Tuesday – Saturday 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday
By Michael Healey
Directed by Andre Dimitrijevic
Name Canada’s youngest prime minister. The answer is Joe Clark, who was just under 40 when he became prime minister on June 4, 1979 a position he held until he was -wait for it- just over 40. Michael Healey’s comedy explores the night when Joe Clark is awaiting in his office the parliamentary vote which will seal his political fate. That evening, Joe is visited by a veritable hall of fame of 1970s (and later) Canadian political names, including finance minister John Crosbie, foreign minister Flora MacDonald, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, his wife, Maureen McTeer, aspiring Conservative candidate Brian Mulroney, and Stephen Harper then a lowly gofer. Every one of them has sound political advice for Joe Clark but he determined to stick to his principles, even if it means triggering an election everyone knows is a bad idea. Throughout the play, the author has included asides to provide the background to the political events unfolding on stage. The result is a play that delivers a glimpse into the funny, and sometimes moving, nature of Canadian political life in 1979.
Meet Your Producer! Established in 2002, Phoenix Players is a community theatre company and resident company of The Gladstone Theatre, producing two productions a season (Fall and Spring). Some recent productions include ‘Shorthanded: A Ladies Game’ (Spring 2024), ‘God of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza (November ‘23), ‘The Mousetrap’ by Agatha Christie (April ‘23), ‘Halfway There’ by Norm Foster (November ‘22), ‘Wrong for Each Other’ by Norm Foster (November ‘19), ‘Heroes’ by Gerald Sibleyras (April ‘19) and many more! Phoenix Players is a registered charity in Ontario. Follow us on Facebook (Phoenix Players Ottawa) & Instagram (@phoenixplayerstheatre)!
Tuesday-Friday 11am-2pm and 1 hour before showtime
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