By Erin Moore
15 Seconds is the story of two brothers searching for love in their lives.
The latest play at the Great Canadian Theatre Company sounds like the plot of any number of recent Hollywood movies, but this play has a twist.
One brother has cerebral palsy, the other is emotionally disabled.
Written by Canadian playwright Francois Archambault, 15 Seconds won the Governor General’s Award for Drama in 1998.
The idea for the play came from Dave Richer, who plays Mathieu, the brother with cerebral palsy.
Richer approached Archambault with the idea for the play, which is loosely based on Richer’s experiences living with cerebral palsy.
Richer has been a professional actor for five years. Like his character, he has cerebral palsy. But he says this play isn’t autobiographical.
“I gave ideas to the writer,” he says. “He (Archambault) understood my vision.”
Richer says he has enjoyed working on the play, but he admits he’s a bit nervous about his part in the production.
“It’s my first time acting in English, and I’m scared,” he says. Richer is from Montreal and his first language is French.
Sarah Stanley, the director of the play, says Richer has nothing to worry about.
“Dave is one of the best comedians (I have worked with). Very present and alive on stage. He brings skill that a lot of actors wouldn’t dream of having,” she says.
Stanley is also a freelance director for the GCTC. She says part of the reason this play will work is because it walks a fine line between acting and reality. She says working with Richer has given the cast insight into how to make the play come alive.
Stanley says she was insecure about working with a disabled actor because she didn’t know what to expect from working with someone who was physically challenged. When she started working on the play, Stanley says she knew she needed to work with someone who was disabled.
She now realizes Richer brings a realism to the play that might have otherwise been lacking.
“If we had worked with an actor who wasn’t disabled we would have been tiptoeing around being politically correct,” she says.
“We don’t even ask (Richer) the questions because he brings that reality as an actor.”
One of the reason the play is realistic is because of the fine line that has been drawn between Richer the actor and Richer himself. But Chris Levins, who plays the emotionally disabled brother Claude, says the script is so well written and inspiring that it also brings power to the play.
“It’s the most interesting Canadian play I’ve read in 10 years,” he says. “It’s very vital and modern.”
Patrick McManus plays Richard, the ex-boyfriend of the brothers’ love interest, Charlotte. He says in spite of the seemingly heavy issues discussed in 15 Seconds, he hopes the audience comes away from the play entertained.
“We’re all hoping to make the audience laugh,” he says. “It’s a comedy.”
A comedy, maybe, but Stanley says the audience may have a different opinion depending on which character they best relate to. She hopes people come away from the play inspired.
“It taught me how truly hard it is to love. It’s what we all say we want, it’s what we all say we need. But to go the distance on it is one of life’s major challenges,” she says.
15 Seconds runs at the Great Canadian Theatre Company until Dec. 18.