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Julia Mackey’s solo show truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Created and first performed 18 years ago by Mackey, Jake’s Gift is the story of a Canadian Second World War veteran who returns to Normandy on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings to search for the grave of his brother. There he meets a disarming 10-year-old French girl who helps him exorcise the ghosts of his past that have been haunting him for so long.
Mackey first performed Jake’s Gift at Lunchbox in 2011 where it was an unqualified hit.
“I was thrilled to be asked back in 2014 for Lunchbox’s 40th anniversary, so you can imagine how elated I am to have been asked to help launch Lunchbox’s 50th anniversary season. I have performed Jake’s Gift 1,079 times, and it always feels like the first time. That’s how much I love doing the show,” says Mackey, adding “Most of my engagements are one or two-night stands, but with Lunchbox I’m getting to be in Calgary for three weeks. It’s such a joy.”
Calgary holds a special place in the journey of Jake’s Gift. Back in 2004 when she was in Normandy doing research for her play, Mackey came across the grave of Chester Hebner, who became the inspiration for Jake’s brother. She always wanted to find Hebner’s family and continued to look for a relative, eventually finding a sister in Calgary.
“Twenty-five members of the Hebner family came to a performance at Lunchbox in 2011 and sat in the front rows. Of course, it was one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever done.
“I am constantly amazed at how long we’ve been able to keep this show alive, and just how many people keep coming back. Whenever we return to a venue, people tell us how many times they’ve seen it. Some have seen it as many as 10 times. For some people, it really strikes a chord. We’ve taken the show to 250 communities across Canada.”
Mackey has also taken Jake’s Gift to Normandy, which was an unforgettable highlight.
“We were told we could perform the show at the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, where our troops first landed, for the 70th anniversary in 2014, but only if we did performances both in English and French, so I commissioned a French translation. We were invited back three years later to perform at multiple communities in Normandy for the locals and students. We also returned in 2019 for the 75th anniversary.”
Mackey has many people to acknowledge for the creation of Jake’s Gift, not least of all Agatha Christie. In 1999, Mackey was a cast member in a production of The Mousetrap. She shared the stage with a young actor named Dirk Van Stralen, and Anthony Holland, a war veteran. Stralen who has now been her partner for 25 years, directed Jake’s Gift, and Holland was the historical consultant.
“If I’d never met Dirk, I would never have written Jake’s Gift, and it was Anthony’s encouragement that convinced us we were on the right track,” says Mackey.
Jake’s Gift, which runs in the Vertigo Studio Theatre from Oct. 30 through Nov. 17 launches Lunchbox Theatre’s 50th anniversary season which includes three premieres by Calgary artists. Twelve Days, Lunchbox’s holiday show, is a new musical from Forte Guild’s artistic director Joe Slabe. Camille Pavlenko’s Go For Gold, Audrey Pham is a comedy set during Calgary’s Winter Olympics, and James Odin Wade’s Please Return to Empire Video mines the nostalgia of video rental stores in Calgary.