Dear Johnny Deere

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Dear Johnny Deere

Playwright/s – written by Ken Cameron based on the music and lyrics by Fred Eaglesmith with additional music and arrangements by David Archibald

Production Company/Theatre space – Rosebud Theatre, Rosebud AB

Length – 2 Acts, 2 ½ hours, (one 15-minute intermission)

Genre/s – Musical

Premise – A man who lost his mother as a kid and his father in his 20s, struggles with farming, the weather, paying the bills, excessive drinking, and his wife’s dalliance with the man who wants to buy his farm.

Why this play? Why now? – This show is magic on a smaller stage in a rural setting. Also, the “let’s stick it to Ottawa” undertone seems to echo a rural zeitgeist.

Curiosities – Is this the same exact script I saw in Calgary years ago? It feels different - is this talent and context alone?

Notable Moment – It’s sometimes difficult to read in a script “character breaks down in tears” but this actor does so with aplomb.

Notable writing – Cameron was able to get the rights to the music surprisingly easily for a writer who self-proclaims he, “plays no instruments and was tone deaf since childhood”. The script took a long road to development, went on to have multiple productions and has been reaping royalties ever since. Bravo.

Notable performances – Devon Brayne is able to dig through the dirt and grow a character who on the surface might be (as the lyrics say) white trash but underneath is an underdog who loves his wife (and his car.) and tries hard to work the farm and not be in debt. Brayne’s  eyes go from dead to loving to regret. Oh, and he sings better than Johnny Cash. In the other corner is his sparing opponent played beautifully by Aaron Krogman who also juggles the role of the father equally as well. The woman in the love triangle is Caroline (slightly disconcerting ;- ); Cassia Schmidt does an excellence job of modeling a grand performance for her students at the school.

Notable design/Production – Some of the best set designs I’ve seen have been created in the minds and heart of Morris Ertman and his classic touch is evident in his subtlety, simplicity, and style. (There were tech problems on the day I saw the show delaying the show by 20 minutes but it was restored halfway through the story – ahhh live theatre.)

Notable direction – Award-winning director with over 45 years of experience, culminating as outgoing Artist Director of the school, Morris Ertman grows a show with excperienced hands. Musical Director Bill Hamn creates the perfect growing conditions to harvest a successful score. Sometimes having the musicians on stage steals focus but not for long.

One reason to see this show – Another story that somehow feels more poignant in a theatre surrounded by farmland. It’s worth the drive.