REVIEW: IT’S A GOOD LIFE IF YOU DON’T WEAKEN - THEATRE AQUARIUS’ AMBITIOUS AND REFRESHING NEW MUSICAL
When Theatre Aquarius announced their 2025-2026 season line up was going to close with a brand new musical production featuring songs from Canadian rock icons The Tragically Hip, two questions entered my mind. The first was: how are they going to bring this concept to life? The second, with the seemingly never-ending influx of jukebox musicals on stage nowadays, was: why? Both questions have been answered.
The how is through carefully selected and crafted song selections, a profound narrative that could stand on its own and belief in the power that music has over audiences. The why is to show that, in rare circumstances, jukebox musicals are more than just fluffy spectacles or nostalgia traps. When enough care and consideration is given, these types of musicals have the ability to draw you into a narrative with familiar, crowd-pleasing songs but then keep the audience invested in the emotionally impactful story that transcends the songs themselves.
Starting off, what is a jukebox musical? The most well-known is likely Mamma Mia! featuring popular songs from ABBA. Sometimes jukebox musicals are biographical in nature like Beautiful: The Carol King Musical or Jersey Boys or they are narratives built around a specific type of music or decade such as Rock of Ages or &Juliet. And sometimes, they are just a desperate attempt to put recognizable songs together hoping audiences will come just because of the artist’s music being featured. Such is the case of the visually stunning but otherwise middling movie-musical Across the Universe or Viva Forever (yes, there is an entire musical featuring songs from The Spice Girls and no, it was not a success).
It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken is a highly ambitious, albeit slightly flawed, musical but, overall, it is deeply impactful thanks to its strong and unexpected narrative. The Tragically Hip songs will draw audiences in, especially with what must have been a painstakingly difficult time choosing the songs to be featured. It is a jukebox musical after all, and if you don’t include the hits, you’re ultimately going to disappoint. Thankfully, the majority of the songs selected progress the narrative and allow audiences to experience the music and the poetic lyricism of The Tragically Hip in a new light.
The book by Ahmed Moneka and Jesse LaVercombe and musical arrangements by Bob Foster in this production are where the ambitious yet flawed aspects are most prevalent. After a rousing opening number of “Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)” led by Karim Butt, we are introduced to an Iraqi journalist named Waleed whose remarks about his country’s leader on the BBC lands him in a desperate situation, forcing him to flee to Canada as a refugee. He settles in Kingston, Ont., where he works at a coffee shop and tries to continue writing and start fresh within a community he feels alienated from. Other narrative elements happen to push the story along, both in war-torn Iraq and in Waleed’s new home in Kingston, and there are few moments without the energetic ensemble and band erupting with Hip songs and contemporary dance.
The company of It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken featuring Karim Butt as Sam (centre)
However, The Tragically Hip’s music and lyrics certainly do not come to mind when an audience is asked to consider the horrendous plights of war and immigrants ripped from their homes to live as refugees as the result of world events which are, sadly, even more relevant today. It takes a moment to go from “oh, I love this song!” to “oh, when I really listen to the lyrics, this resonates within this story.” It doesn’t always work combining The Hip songs with contemporary movement and at times, songs feel too loud and forced upon us when a dialogue-only scene would have sufficed. That being said, when these combinations of music, dance and storytelling do work, the impact is undeniable. The narrative is truly what keeps you invested and the songs, like any good musical should, elevate the emotional core of the story.
The cast of It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken features some incredible vocal performances by leads Ali Momen as Waleed and Talia Schlanger as Kate. Momen and Schlanger have beautiful vocal chemistry together and their harmonies are rich and full of emotion. They are also naturals as they build a hesitant friendship through a shared love of music, questioning each other’s culture with humour and grace and eventually, fall for one another. Their conflicts and intimacies are shown great care here and director Mary Francis Moore has once again demonstrated her particular prowess for building authentic relationships on stage.
Ali Momen and Talia Schlanger as Waleed and Kate
Every ensemble member has a moment to shine both through song and the intricate contemporary dance choreography created by Marc Kimelman and associate choreographer Kyla Musselman. Bravo to the relentless energy and enthusiasm from this cast who breathe new life and vitality into The Hip songs we know, love and may have never experienced live before. Other strong moments come from Karim Butt as charismatic narrator Sam, Brandon McGibbon as Kate’s slacker brother Jonathan and Tahirih Vejdani as no-nonsense mother figure Didi. Some stand out moments include the ensemble’s renditions of “As I Wind Down the Pines,” “Fiddler’s Green” and the titular “It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken.”
There are plenty of fun nods to The Hip as well, such as how Kate and Jonathan’s record shop is called “Cordelia’s” (and later, sung to tremendous effect by Talia Schlanger) and a keen eye will catch The Hip’s lyrics and etchings all over the gorgeous set design from Scott Penner. It has a familiar Come From Away feel to it and it works to highlight the band’s performance who remain on stage throughout the two acts.
The combined efforts of an inventive, dedicated and creative team led by Moore, Foster and Kimelman and their incredibly talented cast with something to say explain how this musical was written, built and staged. You don’t even really need to know The Tragically Hip’s vast catalog of hits to enjoy it, as the songs help heighten aspects the story rather than it just being a “greatest hits of” experience like so many jukebox musicals fall victim to.
The why is to highlight and reflect upon important themes of identity, community and recognizing that music is an expansion of the human experience. We all experience music and lyrics differently and each experience influences how we understand other people and their stories. Narratively, this story was unexpected, refreshing and deeply touching. Its strength lies in that lived experience that many of us only hear about but never pay attention to. This production makes you pay attention.
Just like the music of The Tragically Hip, It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken is about connection, love and spirit and all are undeniably present as the poetic lyricism and rock anthems echo through the auditorium of Theatre Aquarius. If you love The Tragically Hip and their legacy of influential music, you will enjoy this production. If you love jukebox musicals that actually have something to say, you will enjoy this production. I would rather see an ambitious, slightly flawed new musical with a message than another rendition of [insert obnoxious jukebox musical fare here] and I think we are long overdue for a musical of this nature. Don’t miss it.
Photo One: Ali Momen and Talia Schlanger as Waleed and Kate
Photo Two: Talia Schlanger and Brandon McGibbon as siblings Kate and Jonathan
Photo Three: Karim Butt as Sam
All professional photography by: Dahlia Katz
