Denise Prevost

Greg's Anatomy gives you exactly what it promises: an absurd comedy about our healthcare system. The crowd at the performance I attended laughed, gasped, and delighted in the zany antics of its hapless doctor. But beneath the absurdity, there's a reality that hits surprisingly close to home.

The nurse gives us a glimpse into a system stretched thin, where frontline workers are doing everything they can to support us while receiving little support themselves. Their exasperation becomes our exasperation.

The resident shows us what can happen when those who enter their medical careers bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and enthusiastic are paired with those who are simply clocking in for a paycheque—something that, admittedly, is relatable in just about any sector.

And finally, there's Greg: the "average Albertan" who hasn't needed the healthcare system—until suddenly, he does. He's confronted with the stark reality that when you finally need the system, it may not be what you need it to be.

What made the show especially compelling was learning that people involved in creating and working on the play have direct experience in healthcare and drew from their own lived experiences. Yes, it's absurd comedy, but that absurdity comes from a very real place.

I'd challenge anyone who sees Greg's Anatomy to consider what feelings it brings up. Are you shocked by what you see? Frustrated? Maybe even uncomfortable?

So are many of us who've had to lean on the system only to find it couldn't support us when we needed it most.