Deanne Pittman, Centretown News
Ottawa playwright Pierre Brault rehearses his one-man show at The Gladstone Theatre. Will Somers premieres March 24. Pierre Brault, the Ottawa playwright best known for his popular one-man show Blood on the Moon, is ending his eight-year absence from solo performances with a new play set to premiere March 24 at The Gladstone: Will Somers.
“I’ve always been very conscious of how you can say things in humour that you couldn’t ordinarily say,” muses Brault. As a stand-up comedian by profession, he can empathize with Will Somers, who walked a similar path in Tudor-era England as a real-life court jester.
Brault, who’s been an Ottawa resident for over 25 years, says he was drawn to the story of Somers because of the way humour can criticise power. An admirer of that subtle aspect of humour, Brault says he looked through history to find people who had accomplished this feat.
The playwright says the play’s protagonist became Somers after a bit of deliberation. He says his decision was made easier after learning the famous jester managed to keep his head attached to his body through one of the bloodiest times in English history.
The story follows Somers, a 16th-century fool for King Henry VIII. He thrived during a time when the threat of beheading members of the court was very real.
“It was the most dangerous time to be a courtier,” says David Dean, a history professor at Carleton University.
“He can’t overstep, it’s a tightrope and he’s got to be very careful,” Dean says. Somers had to live his life walking on eggshells amidst a tense political atmosphere.
Dean, an expert on the historical period that encompassed Somers’ life, says he’s excited to discover how Brault has chosen to tell the story.
“Does he go for what historians think?” Dean asks “or does he go with what the general public expects to see?” Having worked with him in the past, Dean says he thinks Brault will “try and do both” by telling the audience something new, as well as something that they’re expecting.
The playwright says that, as a storyteller, he’s found “people are less interested in historical detail than they are in how the characters feel about what’s going on.”
In terms of what the audience might be expecting, Dean references the popular television show, The Tudors. He says some attendees of the play might have preconceived notions of King Henry VIII and that by watching Brault’s upcoming play, they could discover a different side to the story.
“Put Pierre Brault in a solo show about a clown and you’re bound to have something that’s a really, really fun piece to watch,” says David Whiteley, a producer at The Gladstone.
He says the Little Italy theatre is delighted to host Brault’s newest piece and that “people will eat it up.” “I really knew that he’d be bringing a great show to us,” Whiteley says. He adds that the play coincides nicely with a landmark moment, as April 23 is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
The Gladstone producer says Brault’s reputation as an actor, writer and solo performer is sure to draw a crowd.
Reminiscing about his Blood on the Moon run, the dramatic tale of the murder of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, Brault says theatre in Ottawa has changed in the 15 years since the debut of his biggest hit. Despite this, he thinks curious dramatic arts and history enthusiasts will want to attend and see how he’s written Will Somers’ life to fit theatre.
Die-hard Brault fans who will be sad to see the closing of another one of his productions can look forward to the future, Brault notes. The comedian says he has two upcoming stories in the works—one on John Diefenbaker, Canada’s prime minister from 1957 to 1963 and another that “will remain under wraps” until a later date.
Will Somers runs until April 2, tickets are $34 for adults, $30 for seniors and $20 for students.