Canadian Pacific Scandal (2006)
Produced by
Playwright: Michael Hollingsworth
Director: Michael Hollingsworth
Venue
Run
March 15th, 2006 – April 23rd, 2006
Synopsis
In the wake of the Red River Rebellion, Manitoba has joined the Canadian Confederation, and Ottawa is planning to turn the West into “one big Ontario”. In the rapidly expanding colony, Canada’s business barons compete to own the revolutionary trade and communications technologies of the day, the railway and the telegraph lines that follow its track.
As the play begins, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald is establishing the traditions of Federal-Provincial relations – wooing British Columbia into Confederation with a railway, and making a side deal to swap the Canadian Pacific Railway contract for a large campaign donation. Caught red-handed taking a bribe from Hugh Allan, owner of Canada Steamship Lines and the Bank of Montreal, Macdonald resigns. Liberal Leader Alexander Mackenzie rides the ‘Pacific Scandal’ into the Prime Minister’s office and sends John A. to the political wilderness.
Though a hunted man with a price on his head, Metis leader Louis Riel is elected as an MP from Manitoba, but denied his seat by Orange Lodge fanatics. Riel gives up on democracy, goes underground and, overcome by anger and paranoia, has a breakdown. Under the treatment of the quack Doctor Barnabé and his sister Évélina, he discovers that life inside a mental asylum is just like life outside: the only difference is the nature of the strait jacket.
Wilfrid Laurier takes his fight for a secular society into federal politics and, despite the opposition of Bishop Bourget, wins a seat from Quebec and begins his rise in the Liberal party. Distanced from his unsophisticated spouse, he falls in love with Emily Lavergne, his law-partner’s wife; their affair and rumoured ‘love-child’ create enormous strife in their households.
In the next electoral showdown, Opposition Leader John A. Macdonald once again makes a deal for the CPR contract, this time with Donald Smith of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The governing Liberals run on a platform of honest government and a total ban on alcohol; John A. trounces them with dodgy campaign donations in one hand and whiskey in the other, establishing another Canadian tradition of preferring a sinner to a scold. goes west to Saskatchewan to spark the next drama… (videocab.com)
Cast
| Herbie Barnes | Louis Riel / Hugh Allan / Temperance Son |
| Paul Braunstein | Wilfrid Laurier / Donald Smith / George Brown / Temperance Father / Citizen |
| Greg Campbell | John A. Macdonald / Joseph Lavergne / Dr. Barnabé |
| Richard Alan Campbell | Rodolphe LaFlamme / Alexandre Mackenzie / Bishop Taché / Telegramme Boy / Citizen |
| Kerry Ann Doherty | Zoe Laurier / Evelina Barnabé / Alexander Galt / Temperance Mother / Citizen |
| Jim Jones | George Étienne Cartier / Edward Blake / Bishop Ignace Bourget |
| Linda Prystawska | Madame Riel / Emilie Lavergne / Hugh Allan's Clerk / The Nun / Temperance Daughter |
Creative Team
| Michael Hollingsworth | Playwright |
| Michael Hollingsworth | Director |
| Andy Moro | Lighting Designer |
| Andy Moro | Set Designer |
| Astrid Janson | Costume Designer |
| Julie Renton | Costume Designer |
| Sarah Armstrong | Costume Designer |
| Brad Harley | Props |
| Alice Norton | Wigs |
| Brent Snyder | Music |
Production
| Andrew Dollar | Stage Manager |
| Andrew Dollar | Lighting Operator |
| Chad Dembski | Sound Operator |
| Dini Conte | Apprentice Stage Manager |
| Melanie McNeill | Costume Cutting & Construction |
| Phil Atfield | Costume Cutting & Construction |
| Andrea Wasserman | Associate Producer |
| Dianne Weinrib | Publicist |
| Amy Stewart | Publicist |
| Benjamin Nathan | Graphic Design Associate |
| Michael Cooper | Photographer |
| Bongo Kolycius | Videographer |
| Bob Nasmith | Crew |
| Patrick Wilkie | Crew |
| Frank Nevada | Crew |
