It’s May 1953, Montreal’s most ruthless mafioso and his two sons are aboard an ocean liner heading for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Forced to leave his home in Canada, the chief scoundrel is now faced with the most important decision of his life — will he sacrifice his youngest son for the passports he oh-so-desperately needs?
Michel Marc Bouchard’s The Coronation Voyage has been a directing dream of Robin Whittaker’s since he saw the play’s English premiere in 2000. He’s finally getting his shot with the eager crowd at Theatre St. Thomas. This will be the first time the play has been performed in New Brunswick.
“When I saw this play it just blew me away. It’s elegant, it’s poetic and yet it holds this extraordinary depth of feeling in this tightly wound plot where you get these new revelations,” said Whittaker.
Quebec playwright Bouchard’s play originally came out in 1995 with a completely French script. It took almost five years for the work to be smoothly translated to English— it took even longer for Whittaker to find the perfect team worthy of pulling off his dream play.
“I wanted to wait for the right kind of theatre, with the right cast in the right kind of city with the right kind of audience.”
After holding auditions for 14 cast members, the Drama professor is sure he’s mapped out the perfect timing to put on The Coronation Voyage. Student Jesse LaPointe nailed one of the leading roles as the Chief, former head of the Montreal Mafia. According to Whittaker, LaPointe slinks comfortably into the role due to his ability to portray a rare depth in his acting capabilities.
“When I read The Coronation Voyage for the first time, it affected me a way that a play hadn’t in a very long time,” said LaPointe. “So, when you get that feeling as an actor you know that you have to give this one a shot.”
The character of Chief is a powerful one. He’s the kind of guy who walks into a room and everyone takes note. Throughout the play he makes endless sacrifices to heighten himself and his crime empire.
“He’s sort of a broken man some would say, but I think he would disagree,” said LaPointe.
World and personal history mash-up in this drama which sails the troubled waters of legacy and betrayal. Playwright Bouchard’s rich themes tie in the ideals of forgiveness, monarchy, remorse and memory all while being set against a backdrop for a post-war Canada. Meanwhile, Bouchard has also eloquently wrote in bursts of subtle humour, a grieving mother and a love affair.
“I think the mark of a good play is one where you’re asking questions and you’re talking about the play the next day. I think that this play is going to do that because nothing has a clear cut answer,” said LaPointe. “Every character is sympathetic, every character could be a villain. This is a play where I can see the audience pick sides and their views is going to clash with whoever they went to see the play with.”
The Coronation Voyage will be at the Black Box Theatre from Feb. 19-22 at 7:30 p.m., with 2:00 p.m. Saturday matinée. Tickets are $5 for students.
