The pleasure of seeing her

If there is a standout in For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, it has to be Lorne Cardinal.

The Corner Gas actor, one of two in the play now being presented by Western Canada Theatre, is mesmerizing as he portrays not only the narrator but the playwright, who ages from early teens to mid-20s as he tells his story.

The play by Michel Tremblay is unlike most others he has written; rather than being about outside events and realities, it is deeply personal as he writes of his mother, who died when he was in his 20s.

The story takes place in a Montreal kitchen in the 1950s.

Margo Kane, who plays the mother, loves to talk and turn her embarrassments and parental concern moments into melodramatic stories that, in her mind, could end up in disaster.

These imagined crises leave her heartbroken and unable to carry on — and are so melodramatic Kane had the audience laughing at her histrionics.

Tremblay, in the skilled hands of Cardinal, loves his mother but has also snickered at her childlike dramatic episodes.

He loves her stories — and loves to poke holes in those same stories and her favourite novels whenever possible.

This interaction helped shaped Tremblay’s life as he became, in the opinion of the play’s director, Glynis Leyshon, the Canada’s greatest living playwright.

Cardinal’s mannerisms, movements and subtle gestures create the needed timelines as he brings his character to vivid life.

Kane creates a mother who is witty and enjoyable to watch. She even received applause with bouts of laughter for her telling the story of a dance recital.

You need to see it to understand why she’s so funny.

Perhaps it was preview jitters but there were times when Kane seemed to stumble on her words, but quickly recovered.

There is no intermission and that makes the play seem a bit long as it nears its end.

I could see some of the audience felt the same way as a few of them began to adjust in their seats and quickly glance at their watches.

However, it was worth sitting through to the end as the play ends dramatically, visually and in a way that makes you forget the few lagging moments before.

The play continues at Sagebrush Theatre to Feb. 4.

Tickets are at the Kamloops Live Box Office, 1025 Lorne St., 250-374-5483, kamloopslive.ca.