Maman and Michel

Rachel Robillard and Paul Rainville perform in the Festival Players production of Michel Tremblay’s For the pleasure of seeing her again. The play runs until Thursday at Mt. Tabor in Milford. PHOTO: MICHAEL GRILLS

Tremblay’s reincarnation of his mom soars on Mt. Tabor stage

There is a moment in For the pleasure of seeing her again where the narrator, Michel Tremblay, performed superbly by Paul Rainville, becomes overtaken by emotion. Without giving anything away— it is an extremely powerful moment in an amazing production that masterfully veers from the hilariously comic to the remarkably poignant. Actual tears flow down the actor’s face. The audience cannot help but marvel at the combination of talent, sensitivity, and powerful storytelling on display on the Mt. Tabor stage in Milford.

Yet Mr. Rainville just moments after receiving a rousing applause for his performance, must come out to address the audience with his cap in his hand. It is jarring reminder that Festival Players get by from year to year on a shoestring budget—that a small number of sponsors and donors make this happen each season.

For the pleasure of seeing her again is likely among the best work done by Festival Players in its six years of producing great stories on County stages. It is a touching work in which the brilliant writer attempts to use his craft and talents to recreate a relationship between mother and son.

Tremblay doesn’t dwell in the sentimental nor does he paint broad strokes. We are invited to understand the relationship through a series of conversations between mother and son. The first half travels an arc of the writer from precocious 10-year-old until he emerges as a confident but still-dreaming young man. We see how the roles of mother and son change over time—becoming richer and more complicated. The final conversations are about separation and hope for each other’s future.

This reviewer was unfamiliar with Michel Tremblay’s work before Friday’s performance in Milford. Having witnessed this production it is now crystal clear why Tremblay is considered among this country’s greatest playwrights. Tremblay understands how to use words. He knows too, how, to use the stage and theatrical devices he has at his disposal— not for its own sake—but to propel and enhance the storytelling.

Rainville and Rachel Robillard realize their characters brilliantly in this production. In addition to English language performances, the actors have also learned the entire work in French for four performances in that language. Rarely, I suspect, have such amazing words and performance merged on the Mt. Tabor stage.

There are just two remaining performances in English—tonight and Thursday. Two more French language performances are scheduled for Friday afternoon and evening.

Go to festivalplayers.ca for ticket information.

For the pleasure of seeing her again deserves every bit of the attention and accolades it has received. Festival Players deserves our continuing support. We would be poorer with out their efforts.