This is very ambitious and there are a lot of really big ideas in it. I didn’t expect the sense of humour…the levity really made the end of part one that much more powerful. With historic pieces like this there is always a danger of being all self-important and smug but there’s a lot of room here for messy or moral ambiguities and it’s a great place to be if you’re going to be thinking about the past.
Patron 1
I feel I should be bilingual and I would have experienced even more but I think it’s amazing that the play is unapologetically French. It was so Canadian which I think is really cool.
Patron 2
The emotional journey of the whole thing was beautiful because you got to see the people as normal townspeople and then fighting for something that they loved. There were no bad guys; everyone was fighting for what they thought was right. You don’t get that a lot in history. Everything’s always skewed one way or the other but here it was equal footing for everyone. Ginette at the end…I don’t think I’ve seen that emotional intensity on stage. That character’s journey was so real. It’s something even young women today can identify with…growing up and wanting to be something and then falling in love with someone and then falling in love with someone else…not knowing how to grow up and then being forced to grow up. It was beautiful.
The audience was so full and so engaged. There wasn’t a moment you weren’t on the edge of your seat.
Patron 3
There was some phenomenal scene writing…the characters I thought were phenomenal. Because I speak French I know that some of the jokes are going to fly in a French community. I was in stitches at some of the lines and no one around me knew what I was laughing at. I like where the character gives the long list of Indigenous tribes and languages. I would like to have seen more of that but maybe that’s just my perspective. That line was hysterical when he gave the long list of all the peoples.
Patron 4
I love seeing something we haven’t talked about, certainly in a theatre space. I’m interested to see how the playwright will wrap things up or if she’ll wrap things up.
Patron 5
The experience was overwhelming today. Incredible. It’s impressive to see such an audacious project being done outside a major centre. I am overwhelmed at the talent, the capacity, the appreciation…it’s a long weekend and the audience was full. It was an appreciative audience that understands the importance of such a large piece of theatre that we desperately need in our country. To Colleen and the director and the talented cast, Bravo! I’m thrilled, happy and excited to see what Part 2 will lead to.
Patron 6
I thought I knew my history…but it’s important we see more and more plays about our history. I know this is a mixture of history and reality but it’s great to see it on stage…so many people on stage…It’s moving. It’s important work…big work. I could have taken more French since I’m bilingual, but for the First Nation, we could have had more of that. If there are surtitles, then everyone is included and can follow.
Patron 7
I thought this was really, really strong. I’m looking forward to when I can understand the French lines as well. When it’s produced, it would be nice if there were English surtitles under the French scenes and vice versa. That would be ideal. I particularly liked the characterization of the people in the French town. It was really strong and brought us right there. I liked the scene with the stars…the seven sisters [told by the Huron-Wendat character]. I’d like that scene to be longer and more developed and balanced…that would be great.
Patron 8
The experience was way better than I expected today since I knew it was going to be a stand-up and read experience. The actors were very good…very emotional. The cast really suited their parts and I was really impressed with today.
Patron 9
I had no idea what to expect coming in and I really enjoyed it. It was more than just a reading at stands – it had movement. I feel like I want to see more about the red lace since that was sort of left in the air. I want to see more about the baby plot line and more about the relationship between Ginette and Gabriel and how that came about.
Patron 10
I really liked it…I wish I was French.
Patron 11
I thought it was fantastic.
Patron 12
Recorded and transcribed by Judi Straughan on 18 May 2019 in the lobby of Sudbury Theatre Centre, Sudbury, Ontario.
Supported by the Sudbury Theatre Centre and the Canada Council for the Arts – New Chapter Grant.