This is the colorful scenario imagined by Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard in you are animala play in which he plays himself, investigating the lecturer Charles Darwin, a Longueuil resident who abandoned his doctorate at the University of Montreal before publishing the controversial essay On the origin of species.
To carry out his “documentary theatre” project, Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard questions – like a journalist – all those close to Darwin by asking himself the question: how far are we ready to go to defend our ideas?
Of course, the underlying issues of you are animal are: could this major work on the theory of evolution and natural selection – published in 1859 – have been published today? If so, how would it have been received? Whether in academia, in the media or more widely in the public.
Throughout the duration of the play, one wonders what the real Charles Darwin, the English scientist, lived at the time of the writing, then the release of his essay. How controversial was there? Who were his opponents? Did he take any precautions? How did he defend himself? Did he lose a child while writing his essay?
Perhaps historical parallels would have been fun, comparing the original Charles Darwin to the one imagined by Baril Guérard. But then we would probably have moved away from the author’s point.
The truth is that in his time, Darwin had opponents (including the Church), and that in speaking of natural selection, even if his work dealt with animals and the survival of the most “adapted” species (thus contributing to evolution), it was only a short step to apply his theories to humans. In the midst of a scarlet fever epidemic, it was tricky…
dark humor
But Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard pushes the delirium much further. And the show is most enjoyable.
Things are getting tough for Charles Darwin. Since the publication of his work, a sling has been organized against him at the University of Montreal. And after a while, the lecturer is denounced from all sides.
PHOTO DANNY TAILLON, PROVIDED BY LE THÉÂTRE PETIT À PETIT
Performers from you are animal : Phara Thibault, Laurence Dauphinais, Isabeau Blanche and Lyndz Dantiste
The president of the Student Federation (FAECUM) protests against the idea of a hierarchy between living beings or even the concept of genetic superiority. A student with a disability receives her work like a slap in the face: she would therefore not be suitable for life!
Think of the fate of the University of Ottawa professor Verushka Lieutenant-Duval, suspended without having been heard for having used the word beginning with an N (to give the example of a word that has been appropriated by a community) , after being denounced by a student who felt offended, and you have a bit of a portrait of the situation.
Yes, Darwin is banished, driven out of the university by students who have not read his book, but who felt hurt. It is in tune with the times. He will become a public enemy. A threat to humanity. Banned.
In fact, the real question raised by Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard is not only: how far are we ready to go to defend our ideas? but also: is it still possible today to defend one’s ideas? The vision of the playwright, despite the laughter that fuse at times, is dark.
Instrumentalized by high-level public relations experts and a world-famous pop artist, Darwin will make a “spin” – we will not divulge the details here – which will allow him to find a way out.
To bring this ambitious production to fruition, Baril Guérard has surrounded himself with a formidable team of actors, starting with Lyndz Dantiste, who embodies a Charles Darwin in full…evolution. Laurence Dauphinais, Harry Standjofski, Phara Thibault and Isabeau Blanche complete the cast of the play.
A word on the inventive staging of Patrice Dubois, which contains beautiful nuggets, with, among other things, the recreation of radio and television programs that host Charles Darwin, or even to show the conspiracy drifts of animators or passers-by (especially at the place of Darwin’s ex-spouse). In short, a tremendous work of layout for this strikingly topical text, which we highly recommend.
you are animal
By Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard
With Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard, Isabeau Blanche, Lyndz Dantiste, Laurence Dauphinais, Harry Standjofski and Phara Thibault. Director: Patrice Dubois.
At the Quat’Sous TheaterUntil February 11