Certain Woman of an Age at the Just for Laughs Festival, Montreal
Margaret Trudeau's autobiographical one-woman show Certain Woman of an Age opened to a packed house at le Gesù on July 25th as part of the line-up of the 2019 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. "Maggie" as the energetic septuagenarian is fondly known by many in her generation is the mother of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the ex-wife of the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Produced by Diane Alexander, directed by Kimberly Senior, and co-written with Alix Sobler The Second City brings this one-of-a-kind engagement to JFL for a 3-night run.
She was in her element playing to the crowd of women of a certain age as she recounted stories of her isolated life as the Prime Minister's wife at 24 Sussex, her "wild child" days, her struggles to define her identity and find her own path, her journey through mental illness and the travails of tragic family events, ultimately emerging as a public advocate for mental health awareness and moving on to happier days.
If she is anything, Trudeau is herself, disarming with a youthful air. She was relaxed on stage dressed down in blue jeans and white blouse, with red shoes for flash. Despite a few flubbed lines and some F-bombs that went over like lead balloons - the self-described "Anglican" is too ladylike to pull off this course departure from good manners - the hour and-a-half monologue went off without a hitch. Billed as a "work in progress" the show was in English without any hint of bilingualism. A reference to the recent "Bonjour - Hi" debacle would have been clever and timely.
Outside the renovated Gesù theatre in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles there was a carnival atmosphere with giant puppets, circus performers, and bands weaving their way through the crowds of tourists and locals who came to take in the free outdoor shows.The cabaret Extravaganza! hosted by Mado Lamotte featured a variety of performances including dance, music, and drag with stand-up comedians doing their routines tout en français on the principal stage. Juste pour rire gags sans audio - suitable for a multicultural audience - were shown on an outdoor screen with seating provided by Tim Hortons.
Certain Woman of an Age is both humorous and moving, an intimate personal memoir of Margaret Trudeau an iconic figure in her own right today as an international mental health advocate who from the moment she stepped onto the world stage at the tender age of 23 captured the hearts and imaginations of world leaders no less than ordinary citizens.
Certain Woman of an Age
le Gesù
1200 Bleury
July 25 to July 27
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