I’m still reeling from watching a rehearsal for My, My How Nice! Productions’ upcoming one-woman stage-play, “I Claudia: at the New Bravo! Theatre, on Ajijic’s Rio Bravo. This is an absolutely outstanding “must see” on so many levels – and I now understand what made it such a huge sell out and frequently reprised production in Canada.
Written and originally performed by Kristen Thomson at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre, in 2001 it was awarded the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play while Thomson won Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role. It was subsequently made into a movie.
My, My’s production is directed by Lynn Phelan and stars Jayme Littlejohn as Claudia. Asked how they came to select this play, Phelan explained that she had seen one of the original Tarragon performances and, “It has just been in my head ever since.”
The story centers on Claudia aged 12 and three-quarters and her struggles with her parents’ divorce, migrating between two homes, schoolwork and two pet goldfish together with all the confusion and certitudes of adolescence. The acuity of the well-written, thought-provoking and occasionally very humorous monologue is occasionally sharply reminiscent of ourselves at a similar age.
Without revealing the plot, with two minor exceptions, the story takes place in the boiler room of Claudia’s school where the kindly custodian, Drachman, turns a blind eye to her intrusion, watches over her and ensures her “stolen” sock store remains safe.
The four characters played by Littlejohn relate the tale: Claudia, Drachman, Douglas her grandfather and her father’s girlfriend Leslie. These extraordinarily effective metamorphoses are achieved by the use of spookily realistic masks, made by Rob Stupple, and some minor props. The feat is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
In probably her most challenging role to date, Littlejohn’s performance is utterly masterful. Her task was formidable: 80 minutes-worth of lines to learn, rapid backstage character transitions, plus the discomfort and sweaty heat of wearing face-masks throughout. The latter accompanied by appropriate and skillful voice, bearing, gesture and intrinsic idiosyncrasies, relevant to whichever one of the four characters is “present” at the time.
Littlejohn completely owns this complicated role and plays it so well she makes it look easy! Her characters are so natural that one soon forgets the presence of the masks due to their very different personalities and the ongoing drama.
The story draws the audience in. We soon, unwittingly, believe Claudia to be a dear child teetering on the brink of, and confused by, impending adulthood who claims to, “know a euphemism when I hear one,” while Drachman’s kind protectiveness and tales of his youth in Bulgonia earns our respect.
Grandfather Douglas is a gentle soul with a past, who is showing his years but is extremely fond of Claudia and her father, his son David, whom we never meet. Douglas cannot remember the name of David’s new girlfriend, the fourth character, Leslie.
Claudia’s youthful reaction to Leslie is hysterical and typical. No, she doesn’t want to be ‘best friends’ nor tell Leslie her problems. Her rebellious song, after the weekly sleepover at her father’s home, says it all.
It’s an exceptionally good script based on an unusual and clever concept that really works for everyone of all ages. It’s enthralling, hilarious, and poignant.
Superbly directed and performed by two of the best theater professionals at Lakeside, in the essentially intimate surroundings the performance demands, this really is a production not to be missed.
Playing: March 12, 13, 14 and 20, 21 at 7.30 p.m. and March 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets 200 pesos, from Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..