Cultural summer | A summer to travel back in time

Yesterday’s Quebec culture is bursting forth in a renewed version on stages this summer. Nine suggestions in theater, circus and music.

RBO – The Circus

They made an entire generation laugh with their caustic and grating humor. This summer, the members of Rock et Belles Oreilles (RBO, for short) are at the heart of a stage tribute by Cirque du Soleil. The show, which will mix acrobatics and a good dose of self-deprecation, will be set in the 1980s. Jean-Guy Legault will direct; Alex McMahon will be responsible for musical direction and will draw as much from the group’s discography as from Quebec music of the time. After RBO – The Disc And The Touneshere is RBO – The Circus…

At the Cogeco Amphitheater in Trois-Rivières, from July 17 to August 17

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Me…and the other

Alexa-Jeanne Dubé and Juliette Gosselin reprise the roles played by Denise Filiatrault and Dominique Michel in this rereading of the 1960s TV classic. Kim Lévesque-Lizotte pens the texts for this comedy which will take place during Expo 67. Charles Dauphinais ensures it staging. Here, the lives of the two friends will be turned upside down by the organization of a talent competition by a hunk named Hébert Léotard. Who, Dominique or Denise, will win the prize?

At the Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne, from June 27 to July 21, then on tour in Quebec

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Starmania

Forty-five years after its creation, this timeless rock opera by Luc Plamondon and Michel Berger is reborn from its ashes. New singers take on the uniforms of Johnny Rockfort, Zéro Janvier, Cristal and other unforgettable characters, but the songs remain the same: powerful odes which have marked French song. This new version, directed by Thomas Jolly, director of the Paris National Opera and artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the next Olympic Games, enjoyed great public and critical success during its visit to France in 2022.

At Place Bell in Laval, from August 6 to 18

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The Tomcat

Published in 1981, Yves Beauchemin’s novel has already been the subject of a film by Jean Beaudin. Here the work is adapted into a musical by Jessy Brouillard (libretto, lyrics and music) in a production by Joël Legendre. Camped in 1974, The Tomcat tells the story of a Montreal couple who dream of owning a restaurant. However, life will throw several pitfalls in their path. In particular, it will take the help of a homeless boy, Monsieur Émile, to turn bad luck around…

At the Maurice-O’Bready Hall in Sherbrooke from August 2, then on tour in the province

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Call me Stéphane

In the 1980s, Claude Meunier and Louis Saia struck a big blow with this play which became a comedy classic, repeated many times. André Robitaille is the conductor of this new version, adapted to our times. Five apprentice actors from different backgrounds take part in evening classes, under the guidance of their teacher, the charismatic Stéphane (played here by Bernard Fortin). Their plan is to put on a play inspired by parts of their lives; Obviously, nothing will go as planned…

At the Maison des arts de Drummondville, from June 28 to August 17

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The Giantess

After Diane Dufresne, who finds herself at the heart of the show Belmont (on a Quebec tour this summer), the Théâtre de l’Œil Ouvert takes on one of the legendary figures of Quebec female humor: Rose Ouellette, aka La Poune. In this musical theater piece directed by Jade Bruneau, La Poune is played by Gabrielle Fontaine. This will be an opportunity to discover the life and work of the woman who made Quebec laugh from the 1920s to the 1990s.

At the Desjardins Cultural Center in Joliette, from July 11 to August 10, then at Carré 150 in Victoriaville, from August 15 to 31; at the Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts in June 2025

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Royal Pub

This musical comedy based around the work of Cowboys Fringants was a great success when it premiered last winter. The dreamlike show imagined by Les 7 Doigts returns to the road this spring. Led by director Sébastien Soldevila, around twenty dancers, singers and acrobats pool their talents to pay tribute to the popular Quebec group. Namely: five of the songs from the show appear on the Cowboys’ latest album; the others come from their repertoire.

At the Cogeco Amphitheater in Trois-Rivières, from May 29 to 1^er June, then in Quebec, Ottawa and Montreal. A tour will follow.

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We’ve known each other for 50 years

Starting at the end of August, the Orchester Métropolitain will bring back to life one of the legendary albums in the Quebec musical repertoire: the homonymous album by Beau Dommage, which celebrates its 50th anniversary.^e birthday this year. Eleven performers will lend their voices to perform a symphonic version of the pieces chosen by the members of the group. In the lot: An incident in Bois-des-Filion, which will be presented in full version. Adam Johnson will lead OM for the occasion.

At the Wilfrid-Pelletier hall at Place des Arts, August 30 and 31, then in September in Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke and Quebec

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Yvon Deschamps tells The Shop

The most famous monologues and songs of the father of humor in Quebec served as inspiration for this multidisciplinary show set in 1942. Here, 19 artists will be called upon to bring to life the touching universe of Yvon Deschamps in an atmosphere inspired by Modern times by Chaplin. The comedian will not be on stage, but he will be present on video to provide narration. He also contributed to the writing of the show (imagined by Jean-François Blais) where four performers will take on as many personalities of the timeless “guy from the shop”.

At the Palace de Granby, on September 11, then at the Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts, on September 24, 25 and 26. A tour will follow.

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