Luc Plamondon is currently experiencing some exciting times. The reception given by the French public to the new version of starmania, the flagship work of his career, fills it to the highest degree. In Nice, Marseille and Nancy, many spectators came to him after the show to share their emotion, which made the author’s heart capsize.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
Correspondent
“It’s absolutely amazing what’s happening. There are 70-year-olds and 30-year-olds with their children who come to me after the shows. They tell me how much these songs have enriched their lives,” he confided to me as he prepared to attend one of the three Parisian previews preceding the big night of November 8 at the Musical Seine.
Premiered on record in 1978 and on stage at the Palais des Congrès in Paris the following year, starmania is undoubtedly the richest work of Plamondon’s long career. “This rock opera is important because I started from scratch to write it,” he told me. For Notre Dame of Paris, I had a base. If we look at it, most musicals are inspired by another work. »
As he rigorously did for his other musical shows, Luc Plamondon was fully involved in the search for talent. “Let’s say I spent a lot of time on Zoom lately. »
To choose the interpreters of this new version, no less than 2,600 auditions have been carried out over the past three years. Some artists were chosen very early. But others, like Alex Montembault, who plays Marie-Jeanne, were discovered a few months ago.
With Rafaël Hamburger, son of France Gall and Michel Berger, Luc Plamondon turned to high-calibre creators who are leading figures in their field. First Thomas Jolly, director on whom all eyes are on at the moment. “We went to eat at the restaurant. We arrived at 8 p.m. and left around 2 a.m. It really clicked between the two of us. He is like a child. In rehearsal, he jumps and runs all the time. »
A click also occurred with the choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Tony Award 2019 for Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette). As for Nicolas Ghesquière, brilliant artistic director of the Vuitton house, he is the one who has been appointed to sign the costumes. With all these beautiful people, we can say that this show, which Quebecers will have the chance to see in the fall of 2023 in Montreal, is in very good hands.
Since the beginning of the performances, it has been emphasized that the themes of starmania (instant stardom, eco-anxiety, rage for power, the omnipresence of the media, etc.) take on a very strong meaning today. The choice of a young performer to play Zéro Janvier is not insignificant. “Of course we had in mind all these young wolves who have become super powerful in the world of digital and social networks”, comments Luc Plamondon.
Forty-three years after its creation, Luc Plamondon acknowledges that he did not think of the posterity of his work when he wrote it.
I created a story that was of its time, but the human being does not change. Look what’s going on with Trump and Putin. One only has to go back to ancient Greece to realize that these themes were also present at that time.
Luc Plamondon
Plamondon was 35 when he wrote starmania. Since then, there have been several productions of this work. The last was an operatic version. ” It was wonderful ! I thought I would die with this. But now the work comes back to life. »
It seems like starmania, described as a “cult musical” by certain French media, has not finished bringing strong emotions to its author. “Wow! I’m going to take a deep breath… It’s true that it’s been delirium since the beginning of the previews. For the moment, it’s happening with the real public. But there is always the criticism stage. We’ll see ! But let’s say I’m pretty confident. »
During our conversation, I felt Luc Plamondon very happy, fulfilled, eager to talk. The one who has the reputation of being an inveterate blunderer even managed to set off the fire alarm in his Parisian apartment in the middle of the interview. “Excuse me, I was worrying. toast when you called me,” he said with a laugh.
Luc Plamondon turned 80 last March. This new creation of starmania is a great way to mark this event. Because unlike the character of Stella Spotlight who says that “death wears Technicolor”, Plamondon prefers to color life. His first.