Last night I took my youngest to Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius for It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, a play based on a story by Ahmed Moneka and Jesse LaVercombe that weaves in songs you know and love by The Tragically Hip.
My expectations weren't particurlarly high going in, because the thought of a play about an exiled Iraqi journalist finding live in Kingston, Ontario set to songs by The Hip sounded a little cheesy to me, but they pulled it off. I thought it was great.
I don't know how they pulled it off, but the use of The Tragically Hip catalogue wasn't at all cheesy, and the story was wonderful. And kudos to the cast, which includes FOTM Talia Schlanger. Not only did I love It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, but my 10-year-old daughter loved it as well.
It was my second trip to Theatre Aquarius, I had previously visited to see the musical based on Tom Wilson's Beautiful Scars, so it was appropriate that the first person I saw when I arrived was Tom Wilson himself. He introduced me to Bruce McCulloch, who promises he'll come on Toronto Mike'd. I also introduced myself to Jayne Eastwood, who I had only chatted up via Zoom. Other FOTMs I chatted up before the show include Ralph Benmergui, JD and Erica Ehm.
It helps if you love TTH, but that's not at all mandatory. Even if you're not a fan I'm certain you'd love this production.
