TRUDEAU STORIES
Written & Performed by Brooke Johnson
In 1985, while she was a student at the National Theatre School in Montreal, Brooke Johnson became friends with Pierre Elliott Trudeau. It had been a year and a half since he'd stepped down as Prime Minister, and now he was walking to work, putting cereal bowls on cartoon placemats, washing dishes and making peanut-butter on toast. He was no longer doing pirouettes behind the Queen but sometimes he was hanging around with Brooke, sliding down ice-covered staircases on Mount Royal.
Through reminiscences, journal entries and correspondence, Brooke brings to life the story of a remarkable friendship. This private insight into the man and the times as seen through the eyes of a passionate artist is not to be missed.
At once vital and charming; poignant and very funny, TRUDEAU STORIES is about friendship and loss...and about who the heck we think we are.
TRUDEAU STORIES premiered at SummerWorks in 2007 and was re-mounted at Theatre Passe Muraille in 2008. Long Black Car thanks TPM for their help in getting Trudeau Stories on the road.
WHAT THE CRITICS HAVE SAID ABOUT TRUDEAU STORIES:
“…this is a winner... Trudeau Stories ... is a portrait of a shared friendship, built on a love of the outdoors, of poetry, of theatre and of life itself. ...Johnson [is] a personable, passionate performer..."
John Coulbourn, Toronto Sun
“…[an] unexpectedly engaging memoir… like turning the pages of a live snapshot album… a maximum of craft but a minimum of artifice…it's delightful”
Robert Cushman, National Post
"...Trudeau Stories may perhaps be one of the most Canadian plays to be mounted in Toronto this year. ...a new perspective on an important era in Canadian history."
Byron Laviolette, Eye Weekly
“…renewed my faith in Canadian theatre…”
Mooney On Theatre
“…poignant and tender…this haunting…tale [has] a lovely secret that it keeps right up to the very last line of the play…As the houselights come up,we are wakened like from a dream.“
Robin Breon, Aisle Say
"Johnson's play...leav[es] us wanting more - as fine theatre should."
Bruce Demara, The Toronto Star
| Upcoming Performances | ||
| Oct. 7 / 10 | Algoma Fall Festival - Kiwanis Theatre | Sault Ste. Marie, ON |
| Oct. 15 / 10 | Centre for the Arts - Brock U | St. Catharines, ON |
| Oct. 16 / 10 | Oakville Centre for the Arts | Oakville, ON |
| Oct. 19 / 10 | Centre in the Square | Kitchener, ON |
| Oct. 20 / 10 | Kiwanis Theatre | Chatham, ON |
| Oct. 23 / 10 | River Run Centre | Guelph, ON |
| Oct. 28 / 10 | Mason Theatre | Perth, ON |
| Nov. 9 - 13 / 10 | Presentation House Theatre | North Vancouver , BC |
| Feb. 9 / 11 | Arden Theatre | St. Albert, AB |
| Feb. 12 - 13 / 11 | Banff Centre for the Arts | Banff, AB |
| Mar. 1 - 2 / 11 | Orillia Opera House | Orillia, ON |
| Mar. 16 - 19 / 11 | Yukon Arts Centre | Whitehorse, YT |
| Selected Past Performances | ||
| May 4 - June 6/ 10 | Centaur Theatre | Montreal, QC |
| March 2010 | The Grand Theatre - McManus Studio | London, ON |
| Sept. 1-19 / 09 | Thousand Islands Playhouse | Gananoque, ON |
| Aug. 20 / 09 | Meaford Town Hall | Meaford, ON |
| Aug. 5 - 8 / 09 | Chester Playhouse | Chester, NS |
| July 31 - Aug. 1/10 | Arena Complex Theatre | St. Andrews, NB |
| July 29-30 / 09 | Ship's Company Theatre | Parrsboro, NS |
| July 24 / 09 | The Y'Arc | Yarmouth, NS |
| July 23 / 09 | Osprey Arts Centre | Shelburne, NS |
| July 22 / 09 | Marigold Centre | Truro, NS |
| July 20 / 09 | Chedabucto Place Theatre | Guysborough, NS |
| June 8 - 13 / 09 | National Arts Centre - Magnetic North | Ottawa, ON |
| May 8 - 10 / 09 | Neptune Theatre - SuperNova Festival | Halifax, NS |
| 2008 | Remount - Theatre Passe Muraille | Toronto, ON |
| 2007 | Premiere - SummerWorks Festival | Toronto, ON |