Fall for The ‘First Métis Man of Odesa’

Photo: Dahlia Katz

Source: Ottawa Life
Author of the Article: Jennifer Hartley

The 2024-25 National Arts Centre Theatre season has launched and it is off to a fantastic start with the First Métis Man of Odesa.

This magnificent modern love story follows the true romance of Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova. Matthew, an award-winning Métis playwright, was on a theatre research trip in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2018 and met Mariya (Masha), an award-winning Ukrainian actor. Sparks flew.

Theirs is a relationship that developed in spite of major obstacles. First there was geography but in today’s world, with online technology and jumbo jets, the usual flirtations and attractions were able to flourish and the two fell in love. However, things may have moved more quickly than expected with an unplanned pregnancy. COVID caused challenges (to put it mildly) but Matthew jumped through hoops, managed to sneak into Ukraine and the two were married. They moved to Canada just in time for the birth of their son and things at first feel fabulous.

Excited to head back to Ukraine to introduce their son to the family, the unthinkable occurs the Russian invasion and, with it, supreme angst.

As the family deals with the heart-wrenching reality of the conflict, the pain of worrying about family and friends is palpable and Masha’s agony is, naturally, heartbreaking. We feel deeply for her as she tries to navigate a new life in a new culture in a new country while coming to terms with what is happening at home.