Lucien Returns to Upper Canada Playhouse!
Candy Pollard

Playhouse audiences are in for a treat when Marshall Button and Lucien roll into town for a newly minted, never before seen episode from this hilarious, locally and nationally famous mill-worker.

Lucien 4: Helter Smelter hits The Playhouse stage September 13-October 7 and wraps up the summer portion of what has been a record breaking season for the Morrisburg theatre. ‘Everyone gets excited when Lucien visits The Playhouse,’ says Artistic Director Donnie Bowes. ‘But the excitement level is even higher when they know they’re going to see a brand new show from this hilarious ambassador of New Brunswick’s North Shore.’

Playhouse audiences met this entertaining character in the first episode of LUCIEN set in a Dalhousie paper mill where he worked the night shift. Then in LUCIEN’S LABOUR LOST he became an entrepreneur and ran his own bar. In 2004 The Playhouse premiered the third episode, LUCIEN SNOWBIRD, where he takes a vacation on a Florida beach.

In the upcoming LUCIEN 4: HELTER SMELTER, audiences will now join him in a fishing shack on an ice flow in Northern New Brunswick’s frozen Bay of Chaleur. Lucien takes a break to do a little ice fishing when the ice starts to break up, sending his fishing shanty adrift. Blaming this crisis on global warming, Lucien tries to figure out a way to get back to shore, expounding on many topics and doing a little soul searching as he sits stranded and alone.

No matter where the location or the occasion, audiences can expect this blue-collar philosopher to keep them rolling in the aisles, nodding with agreement and gasping with surprise at his up to date observations and opinions about everything from current affairs and the government to marriage and politics. ‘Like all good comedy,’ adds Bowes, ‘it connects with an audience because the guy on stage is saying what many of us are thinking. We see ourselves up there and laugh at our own opinions and lives through the eyes of a very funny man.’

Virtually a household name with Playhouse audiences, Button and his character are well known in almost every part of the country—and then some. He was a regular guest with Morningside’s Peter Gzowski, can still be heard frequently on Sounds Like Canada with Sheila Rogers and was also seen on Royal Canadian Air Farce and Sportsnet. Lucien’s wit and wisdom has also extended as far as Afghanistan when Button recently traveled to Kandahar to entertain the troops. It’s been an incredible two decades for Button and Lucien. What started out as a two-minute monologue in 1984 has evolved into what The Ottawa Citizen called ‘a cultural icon…Lucien is a kind of gift from Button to the rest of the country…an Acadian blessing of laughter and from-the-heart wisdom.’

All in all Button has recreated the character of Lucien almost 2,000 times. Upper Canada Playhouse audiences will have the pleasure of sitting back, relaxing and taking a break with one of their favourite funny guys and his brand new show. Considering the fact that The Playhouse is running at virtually 100% capacity, audience members are advised to call and book their seats early. Don’t miss out on this one!

Call the Box Office at 613-543-3713. Runs September 13-October 7. Shows are Tuesday through Saturday at 8PM with matinees Wednesday’s, Saturday’s & Sunday’s at 2PM.

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