An Entertaining Take With Two Perspectives
Reviewed by Debbie McClure
When Bobby Rabbit convinces his friend Hugh to join him in an act of rebellion against the Canadian establishment, and more specifically, Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, the fun begins. Reluctantly, fun-loving Hugh agrees, because that’s what friends do. As Bobby (Richard Comeau) and Hugh (James Dallas Smith) set out on a road trip to Kingston, the Ojibway friends encounter a few unexpected circumstances, including meeting Anya (Madeline Kennedy). Along the way, the three become friends, sharing their views on Canada’s past and the many challenges the Indigenous people have faced.
In a comical twist, the performance opens with Sir John A. himself, performed by Randy Hughson. While the Prime Minister starts in sobriety, to the audience’s delight, throughout the performance, he becomes increasingly loquacious and intoxicated.
The many hardships and lies Indigenous people have been dealt over the years since Sir John A’s time are not lightly or easily dismissed. However, playwright Drew Hayden Taylor brings fun and entertainment to a difficult subject. Taylor, an award-winning playwright, is a member of Curve Lake First Nation.
Add in a little rock music, and great performances by the cast of just four characters, and you’ve got a story that needs to be told. Through Hugh and Bobby, we learn about the past from the Indigenous perspective and, interestingly, from Sir John A as well. Rebellion is all well and good, and sometimes even necessary, but when put into action, there can be consequences that can’t be undone. Passionate about standing up for his rights, Bobby must decide whether to follow through with his plan or accept that the past cannot be changed, but that the future is ripe for it.
Before attending this performance, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The characters were relatable, and the cameos of rock music performed by James Dallas Smith as Hugh had the audience toe-tapping and nodding along. The dialogue is quick and funny, even when dealing with such a serious subject matter. Kudos to Taylor and Director Vinetta Strombergs for bringing these characters to life in such a unique and entertaining way.
Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion runs at the Blyth Festival Theatre until August 3rd. Tickets are available at 519-523-9300/1-877-862-5984 or go to www.blythfestival.com.
Photo: First: Randy Hughson as Sir John A. Second: Madeline Kennedy as Anya, James Dallas Smith as High, and Richard Comeau as Bobby. Photos by Lyon Smith.
Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion
By Drew Hayden Taylor
Directed by Vinetta Strombergs
Performances by Richard Comeau, Randy Hughson, Madeline Kennedy, James Dallas Smith
Blyth Festival, The Margaret Stephens Stage at Memorial Hall
423 Queen Street, Blyth, Ontario
Blyth Festival, 423 Queen Street, Blyth, Ontario
June 18 to August 3, 2025
Reviewed by Debbie McClure