It was a proud moment being in the audience for the world premiere of It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, a play inspired by the songs of the Tragically Hip. There wasn’t a dry eye in the Aquarius Theatre by the time the cast took its curtain call, all of us moved by a bold Canadian story that weaves immigration, kindness, community, and, of course, music into a narrative that reflects our values.
The idea came from
@michaelrubinoff , the visionary who brought us Come From Away, with buy-in from The Hip and their manager
@jake0458 . The book was co-written by Ahmed Moneka, who came to Canada as a refugee after leaving Iraq, and Jesse Lavercombe, and it hits home.
What moved me most was knowing that every part of this show is 100% our own. No looking beyond our borders for inspiration. Finally, Canada is investing in our talent and proudly honouring our unique Canadian-ness. Shout out to
@mirvishproductions for stepping up!
I say it all the time. We are lucky to live in a country that celebrates diversity and encourages us to accept each other’s differences. This charming show, like Come From Away, is a mirror reflecting our values back to us. The soundtrack of Canada’s favourite band underscores what makes us unique as a culture, a country that can rock and think at the same time.
Congrats to
@maryfrancismoore on your beautiful production and
@alimomen and the entire cast on your powerful performance. I have a feeling it will grab hearts not only in Canada, but around the world, reminding all of us why this is the best country in an increasingly angry world.
