The Power of Ignorance: The Play

Ian C. Nelson, Librarian Emeritus, former Assistant Director of
Libraries (University of Saskatchewan) and dramaturge (Festival de la
Dramaturgie des Prairies).

Based on original material and characters by Jeff Sumerel and Sam
Reynolds, T.J. Dawe and Chris Gibbs have produced a totally captivating
one-man, absurdist inspirational lecture. Gibbs (half of the comedy duo
Hoopal) and Dawe (aka the “one-man Fringe Festival factory”) need no
introductions; they are darlings of the International Fringe circuit who
regularly perform their original pieces to sold-out houses.

From its initial premise of “what you don’t know, can’t hurt
you,” the lecture goes on to demonstrate, explain, and extol “the
power of ignorance” under Igmaster Vaguen. The motivational lecture
comes complete with a mantra: “duh … duh … duh.”

Everything about the play and its publication here is carefully thought
out. The typography suggests the pauses and pacing of the lecture
without ever being annoying or merely technical. There is genius in the
timing. Dawe even includes some cheeky self-referential stage directions
and an afterword that blends the style of the work with some concrete
information about how it was developed. The script includes a generous
number of photos of Gibbs in a series of iconic poses for the lecture.

Off-kilter motivational lunacy, this contemporary monologue is
undoubtedly the most amusing and satisfying that I have read … ever!