Harper is the star of show coming to P.A.

A somewhat controversial and humourous musical is making its way around the country.

James Gordon is the writer and performer of Stephen Harper the Musical. He said during his Canadian tour he will make a stop in Saskatchewan.

A few social justice groups and the Council of Canadians have invited Gordon to perform in Prince Albert on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library.

“They’re very interested in social justice issues and democracy issues and the play deals a lot with those things,” he said. “They thought it would resonate with the audience in Prince Albert and I guess were about to see if that’s true or not.”

Gordon said he set out in the last eight years to discover what has happened in Canada under the Harper government, in places from Hamilton to the Northwest Territories.

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“It’s a very common conversation as to how much our country has changed under the Stephen Harper regime and it was so common that I thought ‘well how exactly has it changed and has it changed for the better, has it changed for the worse,’” he said.

In Gordon’s opinion, the success of the leadership depends on who you are. He said as far as middle- class and lower-income people Harper has had a negative impact.

“I think people are suffering in a lot of areas because we focus so much on big oil and favouring the big corporations. If I visit small town Canada a lot of places are closing because of free trade agreements that they put through and it’s really shifted the wealth and the power,” he said.

This is Gordon’s fifth full-length play, but it’s his first ever one-man show with only him and a Stephen Harper puppet. He has a university degree in music, English and writing and he is also a Guelph, Ont. city councillor.

“I’m sort of combining my political experience with my artistic experience with this production,” he said.

You don’t have to be a political junkie to follow along with the witty story line, said Gordon. Stephen Harper the Musical will use short films and interaction with the audience to really get the point across.

“It asks questions about where were going as a country and how were going to be sustainable and in my experience it’s resonated with anyone no matter what their background has been,” he said.

Tickets for Gordon’s performance in Prince Albert cost $20 and can be purchased by calling 306-922-3851 or emailing rj.sawa@inet2000.com.

kbruch@panow.com

On Twitter: @KaylaBruch1