Rick Miller as Brian Mulroney in 'Mulroney: The Opera'. Courtesy Alliance Films.
Here’s something we never expected to see. Alliance Films is set to release Mulroney: The Opera – a satirical musical based on Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney. The film stars Rick Miller and Stephanie Anne Mills as Brian and his wife Mila, and tells the story of Mulroney’s life in an epic operatic style.
“After so many years in the making – and under a shroud of secrecy, I am overjoyed that this film has at last come to fruition and will play on big screens across the country,” said director Larry Weinstein in a press statement. “The character of Mulroney has been a tremendous inspiration for all the creative talents involved — he is the perfect subject for an opera, for epic film, for comedy, for tragedy. If the audiences have half the fun watching this as we had making it, I think we are in for a huge success.”
More info on Mulroney: The Opera:
Joyously irreverent, Mulroney: The Opera blends political satire with an original operatic score. It is at once a comedy, a tragedy and always thoroughly epic in its portrayal of contemporary political life in Canada. Within the ‘Holy Grail’ of musical forms – the Opera – these stories, scandals and real-life politicians are finally given the larger-than-life platform they deserve.
The story begins in 2002 as Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, arrives at the House of Commons for the unveiling of his official portrait. After a less than enthusiastic introduction from Jean Chretien, Mulroney bemoans the lack of appreciation from a country that has wholly misunderstood him, and begins to bend the ear of an unsuspecting security guard.
Mulroney tells his story: from the early days in Baie Comeau, to meeting and marrying Mila Pivnicki, and from his sweeping win of the Prime Minister’s office, to the controversies that have plagued him…ever since.
Colin Mochrie and Sean Cullen also star as Jean Chretian and Bob Coates, respectively, and Janet-Laine Green portrays Nancy Reagan. This could be a ton of fun or a huge flop like Score: The Musical was last year. Let’s hope for the latter.
Mulroney: The Opera runs at Cineplex and Empire Theatres across the country on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. local time and again on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. local time. Landmark Cinemas is running a matinee of the film on Saturday, April 16 in Western Canada. Check the theatres for exact locations and times.
Trailer for Mulroney: The Opera below.
