For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again is a funny and loving story of a son recalling his mother’s influence on his life. His memories are through his eyes as an adult, seeing more clearly the tremendous inspiration she had on his work as an artist. Filled with hilarious and touching melodramatic moments, the show hits true in a child’s honouring the most important person in his life. A strong but gentle story that will touch everyone whose family memories may take a new meaning.
The Narrator (Emmanuel Schwartz) is a playwright recalling his upbringing in Montreal, from the age of 10 until adulthood. His mother, Nana (Ellen David), is central to his story. She is a force to be reckoned with, not only to him, but also everyone in the family. She is dramatic, loud, infuriating, and very imaginative. She exaggerates every family story to the point of hilarious disbelief. Their relationship is not easy. As a boy, he challenged his mother’s assumptions and grand stories. However, she treated his questions seriously, acknowledging his curiosity, encouraging him to read the novels she loves. This builds the boy’s love for reading, the arts, and theatre. His mother, however, is very concerned that his life choices will lead him to failure – and therefore her failure as a mother. The son shows her that everything good that he has become, is due to her influence. She only needs to have faith in him.
Ms. David and Mr. Schwartz give magnificent tour-de-force performances. They have excellent chemistry, showing the tender and difficult sides of the mother-son relationship with subtlety, care, and just the right amount of humourous excess. It is a pleasure to see two great actors bring this complex story to life and make it look so organic. Bravo!
The sets are a character unto themselves. The enormous stage is set like picture frames representing the son’s memories. The lighting moves smoothly with the passage of time of the son’s life. The final act has a powerful and moving image that is breathtaking.
How prevailing are the influences of our parents? Do they bring out the best in you and help you to discover yourself? Some parents have a strange way to show love, like worrying too much. But if they give you the best of themselves, you are already off to a great start.
Photo Credit: Andrée Lanthier
For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. Directed by Alice Ronfard. Written by Michel Tremblay. Show continues to June 1, at the Centaur Theatre, 453 St-François-Xavier, Old Montreal. For tickets call the box office at 514-288-3161 or go to www.centaurtheatre.com
