Happy Valley

Cripplethreat—The Rachel Browne Theatre

There was nothing very happy about the place Happy Valley, where Debbie Patterson grew up. It was just outside of Sudbury and was so polluted by the mining and smelting it was condemned and everyone moved out. Patterson covers a lot of ground in this piece, in which one of the recurring themes is how people can attempt to devalue others that they feel are inferior, be it because someone is disabled, Indigenous, or whatever difference they think justifies their belief.

She also focuses on the lasting horrible effects of colonization (driven by capitalists and missionaries), mining towns, and what happens when we do not give the land the respect it deserves.

There is a lot of trauma that gets unpacked here, be sure to read the warning in the Program guide so you are prepared for that going in to it.

The biggest take-away to me was despite all that trauma, you can only be devalued if you let them. That positive note and Patterson’s strength, sense of humour, and bravery make this a very powerful show.

Murray Hunter