2024-2025 Season
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THE LION IN WINTER
Written by JAMES GOLDMAN
Directed by RICH HUTON
NOVEMBER 15th to 23RD, 2024 at The Gladstone Theatre
1979
Written by MICHAEL HEALEY
Directed by ANDRE DIMITRIJEVIC
APRIL 25th to MAY 3RD, 2025 at The Gladstone Theatre
Name Canada's youngest prime minister.
The answer is Joe Clark, who was just under 40 when he became prime minister on June 4, 1979 a position he held until he was -wait for it- just over 40.
Michael Healey's comedy explores the night when Joe Clark is awaiting in his office the parliamentary vote which will seal his political fate.
That evening, Joe is visited by a veritable hall of fame of 1970s (and later) Canadian political names, including finance minister John Crosbie, foreign minister Flora MacDonald, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, his wife, Maureen McTeer, aspiring Conservative candidate Brian Mulroney, and Stephen Harper then a lowly gofer.
Every one of them has sound political advice for Joe Clark but he determined to stick to his principles, even if it means triggering an election everyone knows is a bad idea.
Throughout the play, the author has included asides to provide the background to the political events unfolding on stage. The result is a play that delivers a glimpse into the funny, and sometimes moving, nature of Canadian political life in 1979.
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Founded in 2001, Phoenix Players is a community theatre company providing affordable, high quality live theatre entertainment to communities in and around Ottawa. We perform comedies, mysteries and dramas from the Canadian, American and English repertory. Our plays are selected for their entertainment value and audience appeal and are performed at the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa's Little Italy. As a registered charity, we welcome donations to support our development by offering workshops in theatre arts and contributing to the resources of the Gladstone.