Ottawa audiences love Fucking Stephen Harper

BY ANDREA HOUSTON – Some theatre-goers in Ottawa may have chosen Rob Salerno’s play for the scandalous title, but Fucking Stephen Harper had audiences laughing throughout and has now been chosen by Ottawa Xpress readers as their pick for Best of Ottawa for 2001.

Salerno’s play, Fucking Stephen Harper: How I Sexually Assaulted the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and Saved Democracy, is a hilarious one-man show detailing Salerno’s efforts to nail down Harper for an interview while covering the campaign trail for Xtra, where he currently works as a reporter.

“Wow, this is incredible!” he says. “I’m so grateful to all my fans in Ottawa and everyone who doesn’t go to theatre but selected Fucking Stephen Harper for shits and giggles. Thank you, Ottawa and Ottawa Xpress.”

The play originally ran on the 2009/2010 Fringe Festival circuit to rave reviews. The show was also a hit when it ran this summer at the Ottawa, Wakefield and Calgary Fringe Festivals.

For the full list of Ottawa Xpress Best of Ottawa 2011 winners, click here.

Follow Salerno on Twitter at @robsalerno.

Keep Reading

John Early in Maddie's Secret holding two jars above an open box

‘Maddie’s Secret’ is the movie about eating disorders we need

John Early’s pastiche of after-school specials mixes belly laughs with gut punches. It’s a rare masterwork
Van Goth

Van Goth made ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ look easy. But victory has a price

The drag phenom’s run complicated our idea of what a reality TV villain could be. She tells Xtra about clawing her way to the top—and her fight for what comes next
The cover of Charity and Sylvia

‘Charity and Sylvia’ beautifully illustrates a real-life 19th-century lesbian couple

Tillie Walden’s new graphic novel tracks the true story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake’s decades-long New England romance
Portland Fire guard Bridget Carleton (6) drives against Toronto Tempo forward Nyara Sabally (8).

The Toronto Tempo are a much-needed source of hope and connection for Canada’s queer community

Women’s sports are booming in North America. Canada’s first WNBA team is meeting the moment
Advertisement