Beyond Ken Dryden

Critically acclaimed playwright Oren Safdie returns to Toronto with Beyond Ken Dryden, a solo show about a boy's idolization of his sport's hero, Ken Dryden, and the Montreal Canadiens, as his own family and the Province of Quebec are coming apart. This deeply personal story opens on the night the Canadiens play their last game at the Montreal Forum, and looks back to a time when Les Bleu, Blanc et Rouges were truly Les Habitants du Montréal.

The 1970s was a wonderful yet tumultuous time to be growing up in Montréal. The rise of Separatism and the coming to power of the Parti Québécois led to thousands of Montrealers migrating south on the 401 to Toronto; Jean Drapeau’s Olympics in 1976 nearly bankrupted the city; and the era of disco, free-love, and counterculture revolutions challenged the traditional family like never before.

For Oren, the decade saw his parents break up and get back together again a half dozen times before parting ways for good, but through it all, Ken Dryden and the Montreal Canadiens remained steadfast in his life, lifting his – and the city’s spirits - by winning 6 Stanley Cups in 9 years.

Written by:     Oren Safdie 
Directed by:   Padraic Lillis 
Featuring:      Max Katz

Sound Design: Margaret Montagna
Artwork: Kinya Christian
Consulting Producer: Derrick Chua