Luba Goy Bares All on Stage in One Woman Show

By Ashton Osmak

Interviewing Luba Goy about her upcoming one woman show, “Luba, Simply Luba”, I discovered that, for this playful and outspoken actress, family is crucial. Luba was late for our interview but called in advance to apologize. Caught up in her ageing mother’s affairs, she was delayed wrangling caregivers at her mom’s seniors’ home. “Plus,” she smiled upon arrival for our interview, “I had to dig out her spring pants so I can get them hemmed.”

We met at a quiet Greek restaurant where Luba has been dining since 1978. When she finally arrived, the small, boldly dressed wellspring of energy built immediate rapport with our young waiter. “What’s your name?” she asked. “James,” he replied, and she called him by name from then on. Later, in a Ukrainian accent she joked, “James? Vat kind of a Greek name is dat…James?”

In describing the play, Luba does not over-complicate matters. Telling her life story, the play is a chance to catch a glimpse of Luba’s intimate side. “I reveal myself… not that I take my clothes off…” she laughed.

The play traces her rise to being an iconic comedic actor on the CBC’s The Royal Canadian Air Farce. Growing up in Ottawa in the 1960s, her childhood as a Ukrainian DP was not easy. Then, she found the stage, performing with the Sock ‘n’ Buskin Theatre Company. Serving coffee to Gordon Lightfoot and other soon-to-be rock stars at the legendary Café Le Hibou, Luba still can’t believe her early brushes with fame.

From a young age she followed her heart, a “passion for performing”, that felt, “like a roller coaster ride.” Back then, she had no idea that a few years down the road, Dave Broadfoot’s comedic genius would shape her career on Air Farce.

About her play, Luba warns, “If you’re expecting to see Air Farce, you may be disappointed.”

You can expect that Ms. Goy will take on a full cast of characters with the deft and rowdy humour she does best. Over the course of our interview, Luba effortlessly switched on a handful of personae from Lucille Ball to Buffy Sainte-Marie and her signature ventriloquist hand puppet, Deedee Duck.

When I asked if she does Ukrainian impressions in the play, Goy slipped into character before my eyes. “Story of my life!” she proclaimed, rolling the ‘r’ in ‘story’ like a pro. Though Luba doesn’t want me to think the play only has inside jokes for Ukrainians. Keeping up the accent, Luba assured me, “It don’t make no difference veder you be Anglophone, Francophone, Ukophone or got no phone at all. Vee are all da same under da skeen…Vee have no clothes!”

If you haven’t seen it already, the play’s poster features a reinvention of the iconic vinok. Nestled in among the silk flowers, the head wreath holds cocktail-sized Ukrainian and Canadian flags, a mini accordion (Luba’s girlhood instrument) and two neon budgie birds (her favourite pets). With raised eyebrows and a coy half smile, Luba sports this custom made headdress piece, giving hints as to how “Luba, Simply Luba” weaves the story of the actress’ life.

Two years in the making, the idea for the project dates back to Expo ‘86 when Luba starred in “Just a Komedia” at the Canadian Pavilion. Andrey Tarasiuk said “when you finish with this Air Farce gig, I want to do a one woman show about your life.” Two years ago, when Air Farce went off-the-air, Tarasiuk called up Luba and said “Let’s do it.”

Luba sees this latest project as neither an end point nor a reinvention of her self-styled career. “I’m an actor,” she told me proudly. As it turns out, there’s a lot more to this Ukrainian-Canadian actress than the wild, witty woman on the small screen. Leaving the now packed restaurant, I couldn’t help but start looking forward to seeing her on stage.

“Luba, Simply Luba” starring Luba Goy, is the hilarious, passionate and poignant story of Canada’s beloved comedienne. Produced by Diane Flacks and directed by Andrey Tarasiuk, the show runs May 7-26, 8 pm. at the Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs, 26 Berkeley St. Tickets: Regular $33; Previews $18 (May 7&8); Seniors/Students $22; Seniors’ Matinee May 21 $18. Call 416-368-3110 or online www.canstage.com

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L. to R.: Ashton Osmak and Luba Goy