Although I am not able to attend the Gateway Theatre presentation of For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, I have a trusted friend going in my stead who will report back to me on how the show worked.
In brief, this play, an audience favourite at Canada’s Magnetic North Theatre Festival in Ottawa, is a funny, nostalgic and bittersweet comedy in which acclaimed Quebec playwright Michel Tremblay pays homage to his mother, a remarkable and larger-than-life woman.
The Narrator (Kevin Loring) flashes back to different stages in his life reflecting on stories of his feisty mother, Nana (Margo Kane) and their remarkable relationship over the years. The audience has the pleasure of watching these two discuss everything, from misguided childhood pranks to overbearing relatives to their favourite books.
As their conversation subtly transforms from affectionate repartee to tender expressions of regret and reconciliation, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again reveals itself not just as a great piece of dramatic theatre—but as a rare and inspiring act of transcendence that allows Tremblay to speak one last time to his late mother.
There are a number of dates left in this shows run at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC – this Wednesday to Saturday night. You can get your tickets for this performance from the Gateway Theatre website.