Hope for Harper

BY JOSEPH PLANTA

Saturday, 04 February 2006

VANCOUVER - I nearly forgot to mention that there's a show playing at the Firehall Arts Centre (280 East Cordova) until tomorrow that's definitely entertaining. It's a local version of Urinetown, which wowed Broadway audiences a number of seasons ago. The initial run was extended and with reason: the show is very good.

It's a musical comedy, but in a way it's a brand new kind of musical in that it takes great liberties in playing up traditional musical clichés, and very often skewers notable musicals of the past. For example choreography from Fiddler on the Roof is poached, Big River is chided, and it seems something is taken from every single musical that's had a humable show tune since Show Boat. But lest it seem like this show is strung together by Jayson Blair, it comes up with something new, something that redeems the genre for another ten years. At least one can only hope, if new musicals are as fresh as this.

Urinetown: The Musical by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann stars an accomplished cast. Among the standouts include the exceedingly charming Jay Brazeau, who is commanding as he is charismatic; and the talented Barbara Barsky, who's remarkable in her comedic timing and expression. The rest of the great cast includes: David Adams, Ryan Cunningham, Tracy Neff, Tracey Power, Sean Allen, Dalannah Gail Bowen, Luke Day, Vince Kanasoot, Donna Soares, Zachary Stevenson, Andy Toth, Leong Willey, and Michelle Yuen. The set by Ted Roberts and the costumes by Barbara Clayden deserve mention as well, as they are characters onto themselves. And yes, the show's about peeing, but something a little more than merely relieving oneself.

***

Here's the one cynical thought I'll allow myself this year. Wouldn't it be fun if this Conservative government, which was largely elected because they promised to be less crooked than the previous Liberal government, ended up being just as crooked, if not more so?

Well, navel-gazers would find it amusing and column-writers would enjoy revelling in all of the politician's misfortune. The average citizen might not however. Cynicism would be rampant and it would be a hopeless time for Canadians. So what.

It's funny how these things happen. We learn that governments aren't elected as much as put in because the previous one was thrown out. The Liberals were hoist on their own petard in 1984 because they'd gotten sloppy, not to mention was rife with unadulterated patronage and the sort. The Conservatives were given a huge mandate because Brian Mulroney wagged his finger at John Turner saying that he had an option. Well, while tsk-tsking old Turner, Mulroney's acolytes were designing their own elaborate patronage scheme, which by the time they left office in 1993, was as greasy and fat as ever.

The Liberals under Jean Chrétien were elected promising better, but this whole sponsorship mess was cultivated under their watch. So, is there much hope that Harper will do any better? Sure there is, for the good of the country there ought to be a better way. However, if you're a betting person, the odds aren't too good.

As Stephen Harper crafts his cabinet, coming up with a ministry that is widely palatable will be the order of the day. He'll have to balance regional and gender differences, as well as make sure he can keep his caucus happy with the choices he makes. He's got personal supporters to reward and possible contenders to placate.

A name bandied about for cabinet is Gordon O'Connor, a former general and a skilful opposition critic on matters of defence. He seems a shoo-in for the defence post. However, Jane Taber on CTV reported last week that he also has done lobbying work on behalf of defence contractors. Scandalmongers ought to have fun with that bit of information should General O'Connor be appointed minister of defence.

Another interesting piece of information I must have looked over during the campaign involved the well-known gossip, that future deputy prime minister Lawrence Cannon used to date Sheila Copps, herself a deputy prime minister in the Chrétien era.

Wonders fail to cease.

So, if the cabinet of Stephen Harper fails to excite, and largely disappoints, it's not his fault. He's bound to echo Sir John A. Macdonald who responded to criticism about his own cabinet making by saying, send me better wood.

-30-

Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca

An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE.