Photo — Stéphane Bourgeois
September 2008 – Kevin receives an envelope in the mail containing the original passport of his late maternal grandmother, Herbjørg Hansen. Only one journey is documented: a departure in September 1919 for the United States. At that time, Herbjørg was leaving her native Norway, alone, at the tender age of just 14.
Fascinated by his grandmother’s history and intrigued by the connections he establishes with his own immigration to Quebec, Kevin flies to Oslo in the hope of unveiling the mystery surrounding his origins. The only clues he has are the contents of the envelope and the few pieces of information he received from his mother, Arlene, now afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.
Set against the backdrop of the Norwegian polar night, Norge is a captivating and luminous dive into Kevin McCoy’s family history. This playful and moving show about the meaning of life is punctuated by the works of Norwegian artists Edvard Grieg, Henrik Ibsen, and Edvard Munch. Alongside the actor, pianist Esther Charron interprets Grieg’s lyrical pieces.
