Director’s Note: Hosanna

HOSANNA is a Canadian Classic. Thirty years later (for the play and for Theatre Network) and Michel’s Tremblay’s play is perhaps (especially in Alberta) even more relevant today than in its French and then English debuts.
HOSANNA has had many labels attached to it through the years. A psychological drama (insight into the complex workings of a lovers’ relationship), a political/cultural parable (an allegory about Quebec) and a philosophical play (dealing with the problems of identity).
It is all those things and even more. It is a great play. It exposes us all. It exposes how hypocritical we all are. How mean we all are. How desperate we all are to have love in our life and how we will not trust its existence. Real love, where all our illusions about ourselves and our partners gets stripped off exposing all that is left of us – our imperfect human selves. And can you love that? Can anyone? Can I?
HOSANNA is where you begin again after you reveal what is underneath your daily or nightly ‘personas’. It is an honour that you earn with the few people that really know you after years and years of relationship games. It is that raw vulnerable place (your goods so to speak) that you cherish with very few people – and sometimes not even yourself.
After thirty years this play is a beacon for all us to have the courage to reveal who we really are and then to proudly and fully live in that truth.
Enjoy.