annual report

dramas/musicalsPleiades TheatreToronto, Luba, Simply Luba$7,000Some goals are accomplished quickly; otherstake longer. Telling the personal story ofLuba Goy’s life took more than 25 years andstarted in a casual conversation at Expo 86in Vancouver.It was during a break in a rather strenuousperformance schedule for my production,Just A Kommedia, that Luba and I werechatting about the very theme of that play—growing up as Ukrainian Canadians. Asshe was describing the rather uniquecircumstances of her life, it struck me thathere were the makings of a fascinatingbiography that should be told as a drama.And so began our commitment to each otherthat someday—as long as it would take—we would together fashion into a one-womanshow the fascinating account of her life as animmigrant arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax withher Ukrainian parents, and then her careeras a Canadian comedienne known fromcoast to coast. This, we determined early,would not exclusively be a comedy, but rathera blending of the actual incidents—touching as often as amusing—from Luba’slife, told in a non-chronological style tokeep its audiences watching attentively as anoutstanding actress exercised her craft.Over the years, whenever we would see eachother at a party, or talk as friends on thetelephone, there was always a reaffirmationof our goal. But as long as Luba’s televisionand stage work with Royal Canadian AirFarce and her personal appearances here andthere were uppermost in her commitments,our goal simply had to wait. Only whenAir Farce announced its retirement fromCBC-TV did the door open, giving us bothan opportunity to begin serious planningfor what would eventually becomeLuba, Simply Luba.Finding the funding for a full productionwas another part of the process, and that’swhere I especially welcomed the supportof organizations like the ShevchenkoFoundation and of individuals who, likeme, had grown up in the traditions of theUkrainian home and culture.Here, too, it took time, but eventually thedollars mounted, and a colleague Torontotheatre company, Pleiades Theatre, whereI also serve as Producer, joined Red Bootsto give us the structure and the team tomount our play.For our promotional materials, NatalkaHusar, created what one might describeas an exclusive, distinctive and matchless“vinok” that only Ms. Goy herself couldwear. Incorporating the musicalaccompaniment to complement theshow’s drama was the task of ourmaster bandurist, Victor Mishalow, whomI decided to set behind an on-stage screen.Recruiting the internationally celebrateddesigner, Doug Paraschuk, anotherWinnipegger of Ukrainian heritage, meantthat I had a colleague who understoodhow to translate every nuance of the storyinto appropriate visual settings for ouraudiences.And so, we reached our goal and our first,live audience on May 7 at the BerkeleyStreet Theatre in downtown Toronto.The publicity promised a look into thehilarious heart, passionate soul andpoignant story of Canada’s belovedcomedienne; the marketing naturallyincluded the city’s Ukrainian-Canadianpopulation, and they didn’t let us down!Looking back, I feel rather proud of whatwe all accomplished. It seems to me thatUkrainian Canadian creativity hasblossomed rather beautifully in the visual,musical, dance and literary arts but in thefield I particularly hold dear, theatre,contributions are not especially strong.Here’s hoping our telling this story of onewoman’s life contributes to this scarcity,particularly because Luba’s personaljourney can touch the hearts of millions ofother Canadians who are not of Ukrainianroots but who can still identify with animmigrant child clinging to simple wishesupon landing on this new shore: peace, notwar; safety, not terror.Now, the challenge before us is takingthis show on the road. Stand by, Canada,because Luba, Simply Luba may just becoming to a theatre near you, and soonerthan 25 years.Andrey Tarasiukproducer, pleiades theatre22 || 23