Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre-Media Centre
★★★★ “Funny, poignant world premiere about cultures colliding”Free Press

When Jesse falls for Adam, neither has any idea what the future holds. But when they get pregnant, they must navigate the awkward and sometimes hilarious relationship between their Métis and settler families.
 
Adam’s family is rowdy and down-to-earth, but a legacy of racism has left its scars. Jesse wants to understand Adam, but even he doesn’t know who he really is. Until he decides to write a play and spark his family’s comeback. A comedy about love and what it means to be a family.
 

Click on the image to download the digital program:

Ovation6Cover.jpg

Warnings: 
Strong language; mature themes, including conversations about generational trauma and the Sixties Scoop; haze.

 

Running time: 
Approx. 2 hrs 15 mins, incl. intermission. Please check closer to your performance for most accurate runtime.



Opening Night sponsor:



Cast & Crew

Production
Trish Cooper photo
Trish Cooper

Playwright

Playwright Trish Cooper
Trish Cooper photo

Trish Cooper

ROYAL MTC Director: Mix Tapes From My Mom (Regional Tour). Actor: The Myth of the Ostrich, Miracle on South Division Street.

OTHER THEATRE Mom’s the Word (PTE). Trish is an actor and playwright (Social Studies at PTE, The Centaur, Firehall) and many Fringe shows, including with the sketch comedy troupe the Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company. 

TRAINING Honours Theatre Degree University of Winnipeg.

ET CETERA Trish is very excited to direct Cory Wojcik’s Mix Tapes From My Mom next season at the Warehouse. Also, big thanks to my pals in Front of House, Box Office and all the wonderful staff here. Tip your bartenders!

Sam Vint photo
Sam Vint

Playwright

Playwright Sam Vint
Sam Vint photo

Sam Vint

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE Sam directed the film versions of PTE productions including Katharsis by Yvette Nolan, VOICE by Ismaila Alfa, Post-Democracy by Hannah Moscovitch, The War Being Waged by Darla Contois and Space Girl by Frances Koncan. He also directed the film version of Shakespeare’s Will by Vern Thiessen for SIR and a short for Sick + Twisted Disability Cabaret called Wheels of Rage. 

FILM Selected works include The Tournament for the National Film Board and the Ken Ploen Way for MTS Stories from Home.

ET CETERA Sam is also a writer, researcher and production manager, most recently working with Farpoint Films and Michif Country with Manito Média Inc. Thanks to Royal MTC for the support, and thanks to Société historique de Saint-Boniface and their Executive Director Janet LaFrance.

Eric Coates photo
Eric Coates

Director / Production Dramaturg

Director / Production Dramaturg Eric Coates
Eric Coates photo

Eric Coates

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE Artistic Director of the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) from 2012-2021 and Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival from 2003-2012. Recent credits include Benevolence (GCTC 2023); Bentboy (YPT 2022 – Dora Award for Outstanding Direction); Echoes of the Homesick Heart (WCT 2022); Daisy (GCTC 2021). Much of his career has been focused on the development and production of over 40 new Canadian scripts.

ET CETERA A tribal member of the Samish Indian Nation, he is a skipper for the Samish Canoe Family and participates in annual tribal journeys on the Salish Sea. He lives in Stratford where, with his beloved Marion, they share almost enough guitars (11), and the requisite number of pandemic-acquired cats (3).

Brian Perchaluk photo
Brian Perchaluk

Set Designer

Set Designer Brian Perchaluk
Brian Perchaluk photo

Brian Perchaluk

ROYAL MTC Recent and favourites: The Mountaintop, Clue (with Grand), Burning Mom, The Three Musketeers, The Color Purple (with Citadel), The Cottage, John, The Humans, Once (with Grand), Sarah Ballenden, Black Coffee, Billy Elliot the Musical, Harvey, August: Osage County, The Lonesome West, Patience, Picasso at the Lapin Agile (with NAC), M. Butterfly (with NAC).

OTHER THEATRE Brian’s work has been featured at theatres across the country, including two seasons each at the Shaw and Stratford festivals. Selected recent credits include: La Cantatrice chauve et La Leçon (Théâtre Cercle Molière); The Whipping Man (WJT); The Hockey Sweater and The Little Mermaid (Rainbow); Post Democracy (PTE).

TRAINING Graduate of U of W and NTS.

ET CETERA Recipient of Gemini, Jessie Richardson, Prix Rideau and Evie Awards.

Joseph Abetria photo
Joseph Abetria

Costume Designer

Costume Designer Joseph Abetria
Joseph Abetria photo

Joseph Abetria

ROYAL MTC Costume Designer: The Piano Teacher, Calpurnia (with NAC/Black Theatre Workshop); Tiny Plays, Big Ideas; Bang Bang (with Belfry); Last Train to Nibroc. Associate Costume Designer: Into the Woods. Apprentice Costume Designer: Billy Elliot the Musical. 2020/21 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Costume Designer: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Grand Ghost (Grand); Snow White, Spelling 2-5-5 (MTYP); Volare, Space Girl, Voice (PTE); Plé (Plé Collective presented by MTYP); Women of the Fur Trade (Vault Projects); Mary’s Wedding, Iceland (TPM). Production Designer: The Player King (SIR); The Game, Two Indians (Sarasvàti). Assistant Costume Designer: Othello, The Neverending Story, The Rocky Horror Show, Romeo and Juliet (Stratford).

TRAINING University of Winnipeg.

Amy McPherson photo
Amy McPherson

Associate Costume Designer

Associate Costume Designer Amy McPherson
Amy McPherson photo

Amy McPherson

ROYAL MTC Assistant Costume Designer: The Secret to Good Tea.

OTHER THEATRE Assistant Costume Designer: Frozen River (MTYP). Costume Designer: A Pickle, Pals (WJT).

TRAINING Fashion Design and Apparel Production (MC College); Indigenous Haute Couture Residency (Banff Centre for Arts).

ET CETERA Always a pleasure to work with Royal MTC! Miigwetch/thank you. 

Larry Isacoff photo
Larry Isacoff

Lighting Designer

Lighting Designer Larry Isacoff
Larry Isacoff photo

Larry Isacoff

ROYAL MTC The Sound of Music (with Citadel), Burning Mom, The (Post) Mistress, Di and Viv and Rose, 23.5 Hours, Armstrong’s War, The Secret Annex, Harvey, Other People’s Money, August: Osage County, The Fighting Days, The Shunning, The Seafarer, Looking Back – West, Bleeding Hearts, Rope’s End, The Retreat from Moscow, Fully Committed, Mating Dance of the Werewolf, The Miracle Worker, Cloud Nine, Bedroom Farce, How I Got That Story, The Affections of May, Mrs. Klein, The Gin Game, Paper Wheat. 

OTHER THEATRE Cercle Molière, Globe Theatre, 25th Street Theatre, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, PTE, MTYP, Persephone Theatre, Dry Cold Productions.

ET CETERA Evie Award for Outstanding Lighting Design in 2020. Larry divides his time between engaging theatre projects and teaching yoga.

Daniel Roy photo
Daniel Roy

Composer & Sound Designer

Composer & Sound Designer Daniel Roy
Daniel Roy photo

Daniel Roy

ROYAL MTC Performer: All is Bright. Sound Designer: The Three Musketeers, The Rez Sisters, Women of the Fur Trade.

OTHER THEATRE Sound Designer: Théâtre sans animaux, Le boucher, Plus (+) que toi (TCM); The Flats, What To Do With Albert (PTE/TCM); Flesh + Machine (Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers); PLÉ (MTYP); Le ciel est bleu comme une orange (TCM/EMC Shemsy, Morocco).

FILM/TV Voice Actor: Supa Strikas, Canot Cocasse, Wolf Joe, La Brigade, Chums.

TRAINING Beauty school dropout; as a musician, mostly a mix of self-taught and private lessons.

ET CETERA Multi-instrumentalist, composer and award-winning singer-songwriter, Daniel Roy has been contributing to Manitoba’s artistic community for three decades. His skill and versatility allow him to work across all genres of music. He divides his time between performing and recording with different artists, album production, artistic direction, and sound design for theatre and television.

Charlene Van Buekenhout photo
Charlene Van Buekenhout

Assistant Director

Assistant Director Charlene Van Buekenhout
Charlene Van Buekenhout photo

Charlene Van Buekenhout

ROYAL MTC Assistant Director: The Woman in Black. Actor: Di and Viv and Rose, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Bleeding Hearts. 2022/23 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE Actor/theatre creator in Winnipeg for 20 years. Actor: Josephine-Marie in Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North (MB Opera); The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (SIR); two Munsch tours (PTE). Actor/producer: Minoosh Doo-Kapeeshiw (currently touring), JONNO (Winnipeg Fringe); Hamlet (the rest is silence), Hedda Gabler, Blithe Spirit (Master Playwright Festival). Director: The Gravedigger.

FILM/TV Le Monde de Gabrielle Roy, Architecture of an Atom, Lanfeust of Troy and voices for various animated series.

TRAINING BA Hons. in Theatre (U of W). Jigging for 5 years with Métis Jigging instructor Dean Davis.

ET CETERA Charlene is the Artistic Producer of Echo Theatre @echotheatretreaty1, which is the Company in Residence at PTE for 2023-2025. Happy birthday to my Grandma who turned 100 this year. And to Kevin and Phoebe, ki-shakihiitin <3.

Val Vint photo
Val Vint

Cultural Consultant

Cultural Consultant Val Vint

Val Vint

Michael Lawrenchuk photo
Michael Lawrenchuk

Cree Translation

Cree Translation Michael Lawrenchuk
Michael Lawrenchuk photo

Michael Lawrenchuk

ROYAL MTC Playwriting: Babylon (2022/23 Pimootayowin Creators Circle).

ET CETERA Michael has been involved in theatre, film and television as an actor, director and writer since 1991. Michael is a graduate of the U of W’s Honour’s Acting Program. He has pursued his post grad studies at the London Theatre School, is an alumnus of the University of Exeter, Staging Shakespeare and a 2014 Fellow of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London. He is a former chief of the Fox Lake Cree Nation.

Marion Day photo
Marion Day

Music Coach

Music Coach Marion Day

Marion Day

Michael Duggan photo
Michael Duggan

Stage Manager

Stage Manager Michael Duggan
Michael Duggan photo

Michael Duggan

ROYAL MTC (selected) Stage Manager: The Mountaintop (2024), Clue (with Grand), Into the Woods, New, Calpurnia (with NAC/BTW), Vietgone (with fu-GEN/Hope and Hell), Hand to God. Assistant Stage Manager: Burning Mom, The Mountaintop (2021), The Color Purple (with Citadel), A Christmas Carol, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (with Citadel), Chimerica. 2022/23 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) The Nutcracker (RWB); The Little Mermaid (2023), The Wizard of Oz (2022), Mamma Mia! (Rainbow Stage); Space Girl, The War Being Waged (PTE); The Winter’s Tale/Le conte d’hiver (SIR/TCM); MTYP’s Midwinter Mosey (MTYP); The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (WJT); Meet Me at Dawn (TBTR). 

TRAINING B.A. (Hons) in Theatre Production and Stage Management at the University of Winnipeg.

ET CETERA Enjoy the show!

Ridge Romanishen photo
Ridge Romanishen

Assistant Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager Ridge Romanishen
Ridge Romanishen photo

Ridge Romanishen

ROYAL MTC Stage Manager: among men (with TPM). Apprentice Stage Manager: Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Three Musketeers, Calpurnia. 

OTHER THEATRE Narnia (Bad Hats Theatre/MTYP); Feast (PTE); A Pickle, Narrow Bridge (WJT); The Velveteen Rabbit (MTYP); The Marriage of Figaro (Manitoba Underground Opera); Dance Spectrum (RWB School); In Time (TPM); Trigger Warning: Cassandra (Sick + Twisted); Shakespeare’s Will (SIR); The Golem’s Mighty Swing (WJT/Outside The March); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Dry Cold).

TRAINING Graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Theatre and Film Program with Honours in Stage Management.

ET CETERA Ridge is thrilled to be back working with Royal MTC this season. He would like to thank all his friends, family and “Lovey” for their support and, of course, the fabulous folks at Royal MTC for another amazing opportunity to create live theatre!

Meaghan Fletcher photo
Meaghan Fletcher

Apprentice Stage Manager

Apprentice Stage Manager Meaghan Fletcher
Meaghan Fletcher photo

Meaghan Fletcher

ROYAL MTC Actor: Our Town. Assistant Stage Manager: Mamma Mia! (Lawyers Play).

OTHER THEATRE Actor: Masterclass (Opera NUOVA); Beauty and the Beast (Rainbow); Jason and Hanna, La bohème (Manitoba Opera). Stage Manager: Kiss Me Kate, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Opera Nuova); Dido and Aeneas, Svadba and Bluebeard’s Castle, Orphée et Eurydice (Manitoba Underground Opera); PITH, Peer Gynt (Black Hole Theatre Company).

TRAINING Bachelor of Music and a minor in theatre from the U of M.

ET CETERA Love to Mom, Dad and Garret for all their support. 

Devon Helm photo
Devon Helm

Child Supervisor

Child Supervisor Devon Helm
Devon Helm photo

Devon Helm

Cast
Danielle Calla Adubofour-Poku
Calla Adubofour-Poku photo

Calla Adubofour-Poku

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Flight of Fancy, Middletown, Metamorphoses, Twelfth Night (NTS); Romeo and Juliet (Exit Stage Left); Robin Hood, Argonautika, Orpheus and Eurydice (Second Story Theatre).

TRAINING 2023 graduate from the National Theatre School of Canada’s acting program.

ET CETERA Calla is eternally grateful for the opportunity to work on The Comeback with this magnificent group of artists. She is thrilled to work on a show that her childhood self would be proud and excited to see. She sends her love and appreciation to her family, friends and partner for their constant support.

Gigi Mariam Bernstein
Mariam Bernstein photo

Mariam Bernstein

ROYAL MTC Actor: Into the Woods, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Black Coffee, The Heidi Chronicles, Mrs. Klein, Les Belles-Soeurs. Director: Romeo and Juliet (‘94), The Things We Do For Love.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Actor: Becoming Dr. Ruth, Angels in America Parts 1 & 2 (WJT); Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods (Dry Cold); Selkirk Avenue (PTE/Magnus); Spring Awakening (WST); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Neptune). Director: Dieu de Carnage (TCM); Falsettos, Death of a Salesman, Speed-the-Plow (WJT); Company, The Secret Garden (Dry Cold).

FILM/TV Over 30 Manitoba productions, including The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (upcoming December 2024). 

TRAINING/TEACHING National Theatre School of Canada; U of W. Theatre educator and acting coach for over 30 years.

ET CETERA Love to Miranda and Cinna. For Gail Asper, a champion of Canadian theatre, and true Mensch.

Ben Damien Broomes
Damien Broomes photo

Damien Broomes

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Memphis, Twisted, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Sister Act, Mamma Mia!, Shrek the Musical, Ragtime.

FILM/TV Holiday Heritage (Hallmark); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC).

ET CETERA Damien is thrilled to be in his first Royal MTC show. Many thanks to the cast and crew for their warm welcome and collaboration. Sincere thanks to the city of Winnipeg for having me. Heartfelt thanks to Becca, Eli, my family and my friends for their continued and unrelenting support!

Jesse Gwendolyn Collins
Gwendolyn Collins photo

Gwendolyn Collins

ROYAL MTC The Piano Teacher, The Penelopiad, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Last Train to Nibroc (Regional Tour).

OTHER THEATRE Tiny Treasures, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (MTYP); Red Earth, I Dream of Diesel (One Trunk Theatre/TPM); Mission Potluck, 204FM, Hamlet as Told on the Streets (One Trunk Theatre); The Cherry Orchard (TBTR); Way to Heaven, One of Ours (WJT); Munscha Meeya, Munschtopia (PTE).

FILM/TV Little Bird (Crave, APTN); Orphan: First Kill (Paramount); The Return (Strata Studios); Channel Zero (SYFY); The Pinkertons (Pink Pictures); Stand! The Musical (Frantic Films).

TRAINING BA Honors degree from the U of W department of Theatre and Film.

Finn Myles Grantham
Myles Grantham photo

Myles Grantham

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

TRAINING Monologue, Character & Scene Studies; Improvisation Techniques; Guitar & Voice.

ET CETERA Myles is excited to bring his love for the arts to the stage during his Royal MTC debut this spring! Myles is thankful to his family, friends and communities for their support and encouragement to learn, achieve and inspire.

Lynn Marsha Knight
Marsha Knight photo

Marsha Knight

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Rise, Red River (Article 11, PTE, Théâtre Cercle Molière); The Unplugging (Belfry); Crees in the Caribbean (Magnus); Antony & Cleopatra (SIR); Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun (Theatre Northwest); The Rez Sisters (x3) (PTE, Magnus, Theatre Northwest).

TV Acting Good Season 2; D dot H (APTN web series); Little Bird; Vandits. Writer/Director of documentary Winnipeg’s North End, A Food Desert (NSI IndigiDocs, APTN, CBC Gem).

ET CETERA Marsha is Ojibwe/Métis, born and raised in Winnipeg, with Ancestors from the east side of Lake Manitoba. Having directed Neechies (Jo MacDonald) at Winnipeg Fringe 2023, she will now be directing Agency (barb janes) at Fringe 2024. She teaches Intro Indigenous Performance at U of W and is currently set to record her fourth audiobook.

Michael Lawrenchuk photo
Michael Lawrenchuk

Wilbur / Uncle Bear

Wilbur / Uncle Bear Michael Lawrenchuk
Michael Lawrenchuk photo

Michael Lawrenchuk

ROYAL MTC Playwriting: Babylon (2022/23 Pimootayowin Creators Circle).

ET CETERA Michael has been involved in theatre, film and television as an actor, director and writer since 1991. Michael is a graduate of the U of W’s Honour’s Acting Program. He has pursued his post grad studies at the London Theatre School, is an alumnus of the University of Exeter, Staging Shakespeare and a 2014 Fellow of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London. He is a former chief of the Fox Lake Cree Nation.

Tracey Nepinak photo
Tracey Nepinak

Aunty Leona

Aunty Leona Tracey Nepinak
Tracey Nepinak photo

Tracey Nepinak

ROYAL MTC Acting: The Secret to Good Tea, Sarah Ballenden, Good People, The History of Manitoba from the Beginning of Time to the Present in 45 Minutes. Directing: The Rez Sisters. Playwriting: Redemption Tax (2020/21 Pimootayowin Creators Circle).

OTHER THEATRE Tracey has worked professionally, in theatres across Canada, since 1993. Recent acting: Philomena in The Rez Sisters (Stratford); Rae Anna in Honour Beat (world premiere, Theatre Calgary); Crazy Bone in A Short History of Crazy Bone (world premiere, TPM); Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra (SIR).

TV Recent acting: Rose in Burden of Truth (Eaglevision).

TRAINING Tracey graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a B.A. Honours in Theatre.

ET CETERA She is a proud member of Peguis First Nation, here on Treaty One Territory. Tracey is “over-the-moon” excited to be Milo’s “kookum”!

Carol Melanie Whyte
Melanie Whyte photo

Melanie Whyte

ROYAL MTC Into the Woods, The Audience (with Mirvish).

OTHER THEATRE Selected: Narnia, Spelling 2-5-5 (MTYP); Feast, Fly Me to the Moon, Till It Hurts (PTE); The Prom, The Light in the Piazza, A Man of No Importance, Into the Woods (Dry Cold); Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Timon of Athens (SIR); Cinderella, Sister Act, Mary Poppins, Annie, The Full Monty (Rainbow); The Game, Miss N’ Me (Sarasvàti); Sunday in the Park with George (Gallery Works).

FILM/TV Larry Saves the Healthcare System (Research MB/Tripwire); Burden of Truth (CBC/Eagle Vision).

TRAINING BMus (UBC); Film and Theatre School Vancouver; National Voice Intensive.

ET CETERA Melanie teaches singing in Winnipeg and online and is a member of the Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir, which is really a band. Thanks to Sam and Trish for this play. In memory of Dianne.

Adam Cory Wojcik
Cory Wojcik photo

Cory Wojcik

ROYAL MTC Actor/Playwright: Mix Tapes From My Mom (Regional Tour). Actor: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (with Segal), The Three Musketeers, All is Bright, The Cottage, A Doll’s House, Once (with Grand), Kill Me Now (with NAC), Black Coffee, Hand to God, Billy Elliot the Musical, Late Company, Harvey, Miracle on South Division Street, August: Osage County. Assistant Director: Morning After Grace.

OTHER THEATRE Actor: Much Ado About Nothing (SIR); The Wedding Party, Butcher (PTE); Strike! The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, The Producers (Rainbow); The Jungle Book, Jabber, The Big League (MTYP); Another Way Home (WJT); A Man of No Importance (Dry Cold). 

FILM/TV Actor: Acting Good, Champions, Dark Harvest, Breakthrough, A Dog’s Purpose.

ET CETERA Love to Heather and the boys.

Production ID: 32091
Start Date: 4/24/2024 3:15:57 PM
End Date: 5/18/2024 3:16:08 PM
Title: The Comeback
Playwright: By Trish Cooper and Sam Vint
Billing: Directed by Eric Coates
Warnings: Strong language; mature themes, including conversations about generational trauma and the Sixties Scoop; haze.
Synopsis: ★★★★ “Funny, poignant world premiere about cultures colliding”Free Press

When Jesse falls for Adam, neither has any idea what the future holds. But when they get pregnant, they must navigate the awkward and sometimes hilarious relationship between their Métis and settler families.
 
Adam’s family is rowdy and down-to-earth, but a legacy of racism has left its scars. Jesse wants to understand Adam, but even he doesn’t know who he really is. Until he decides to write a play and spark his family’s comeback. A comedy about love and what it means to be a family.
 

Click on the image to download the digital program:

Ovation6Cover.jpg

Facility: John Hirsch Mainstage
Alternate URL: https://royalmtc.ca/Current-Plays/The-Comeback.aspx
Play Image:
Word Mark: e59f1a79-7019-4fd6-82e3-b31ba407c5a1
Rotator Image: dfba6b56-e7a6-4b24-a7f6-3e30e46ae65d
Display Rotator From: 4/13/2024 10:05:00 PM
Display Rotator To: 5/18/2024 11:59:00 PM
 

Stay in the loop!

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Sign up now!