This review won’t be a recounting of happenings in The Best Laid Plans: A Musical – it will be a directive to go see it.
Because it’s the world premiere of a new Canadian musical, and those are rare; because it’s election season, and this will remind you of all the ironies and intricacies of Canadian politics; because it’s Canadian in the best ways possible (bears! The Senate!); but most importantly, because it’s funny.
Based on Terry Fallis’ satirical 2008 novel – winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour – and adapted by Vern Thiessen, Benjamin Elliott and Anton Lipovetsky for the stage, The Best Laid Plans chronicles what happens when a reluctant, unseasoned candidate beats out a habitual, “unbeatable” MP. All sides of the political spectrum are on notice, but the story hones in on a battle between Liberals and Conservatives in a small-town Ontario riding.
The real federal election will take place on Oct. 19, but we should all imagine that the path to Ottawa is lined with laugh-out-loud musical numbers, crusty Scots, tearjerking ballads, and bad news bears (literally, a grizzly bear that has terrible intentions).
It’s not perfect: Drew Facey’s set design is slightly off-putting in its sparseness, and there are two plot holes and a puzzling flip-flop of character, but the cast – peppered with well-known names from the Vancouver theatre community – was spot-on and singers Andrew Wheeler (as candidate Angus McLintock), Daniel Addison (as Liberal speech writer Nick Fontaine) and Steffanie Davis (as LGBTQ supporter Kris Cadogan) deserved the opening night standing ovation in spades.
Developed and produced over three years by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions, The Best Laid Plans is packed with hummable tunes and ribald political ‘pun’ditry (“caucus”, “private members bill” – there’s really so much to work with).
You’ll leave the York Theatre feeling a little bit more Canadian, and a lot more inclined to keep an eye on Parliament Hill.
• The Best Laid Plans: A Musical runs until Oct. 3 at the York Theatre (639 Commercial). Tickets from $19; TheCultch.com.
