Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The “lawyer play” is an annual fundraiser at the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC), and has run for the last 24 years. This year’s production is Canadian author and playwright Anne-Marie MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). But, you must be wondering what a “lawyer play” is exactly. We got to chat with Jennifer Bond and Amanda Montague-Reinholdt, who both play the lead role of Constance in this year’s show, to learn a bit more about this unique event.
Tell us more about the concept of the lawyer play and how it works.
Both: The lawyer play is an annual fundraiser for the GCTC and a charity partner (this year it’s QuickStart, which is a charity in support of Early Autism Intervention). The play is professionally directed, designed and produced, but the cast is comprised of members of the legal community. Over the years, we’ve had lawyers, paralegals, law students and even judges take to the stage to perform in the play.
This year’s show is Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). Tell us about the premise of the show and what audiences can expect from the production.
Both: The play follows Constance Ledbelly, a Queen’s University professor with an unpopular theory that two of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Othello and Romeo and Juliet, aren’t tragedies at all. Constance ends up magically whisked into the worlds of the two plays, where she inadvertently alters the course of the plots, to hilarious results! This play is a Canadian classic by brilliant playwright Anne Marie MacDonald. It has lots of fun Shakespeare references and jokes for the English majors out there, but for the rest, it has sword-fighting, disguises, gender-bending mistaken identity and comedy everyone can enjoy.
Photo by Curtis Perry
What inspired each of you to get involved in this fundraiser and to be a part of the show?
Amanda: This year marks my tenth anniversary doing the lawyer play—and the tenth anniversary of my first Apt613 interview for the play! When I first joined as a lawyer, relatively new to the profession and the city, it was a great way to meet other members of the legal community. I have kept coming back all these years because of the friendships I’ve made, the loads of fun I’ve had and the great causes I have had a chance to support.
Jennifer: I have supported the lawyer play as an audience member for years. This year, when I heard which play had been chosen, I knew I had to audition for this great Canadian production. It has been a great way to get more involved and support the amazing work and programming that GCTC provides.
What are you most excited about with this production and for audiences to get a chance to experience?
Amanda: The production value! Audiences are always amazed at the quality of the production, but I think the costumes and set this year will blow everyone away.
Jennifer: I agree with Amanda! The crew has done a fantastic job. I think audience members are going to have a lot of fun being transported with Constance from her office at Queen’s University to the worlds of these two Shakespearean plays.
Photo by Curtis Perry
Funds from the production support the GCTC and a charity of choice for the lawyers involved. Tell us a bit more about this year’s charity.
Both: We are always happy that we can support a local charity along with our support of the GCTC every year with this fundraiser. This year’s charity is QuickStart. QuickStart raises awareness and initiates programs to cut wait times, build capacity and promote improvements for early intervention services for children with autism.
Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)—the lawyer play 2024 runs at GCTC from May 23 to 25 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $125. All Gala tickets purchased are eligible for a tax receipt ($65 for early bird pricing, $75 for standard).
