Echoes from the scene | La Presse

Wildlife Handbookin English

The first English version of the Wildlife Handbook by Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard is presented from September 13 to 29 at the Segal Centre in Montreal. Under the title of How to Survive in the WildBaril Guérard’s play is based on his best-selling novel, premiered at Théâtre Duceppe in 2021, translated and directed by Rebecca Gibian. This social satire is set in Montreal, around young people who invent an artificial intelligence “chatbot” application that allows them to communicate with dead loved ones. The production features a cast of local, bilingual and emerging artists: Oumy Dembele, Juliette Diodati, Jonathan Silver, Brian Dooley, Lula Brouillet-Lucian and Noah Labranche.

At Segal, from September 13 to 29 (5170, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine)

Luc Boulanger, The Press

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The Assembly in Quebec

The documentary theatre show, conceived by the Porte Parole company and created at Espace Go, is being revived in Quebec City this fall. The premise reflects our ultra-polarized times. On stage, four people with radically different backgrounds and opinions discuss. What divides them, but also what unites them. Based on the accounts of these conversations, authors Alex Ivanovici and Brett Watson wrote a unique play, performed by professional actors, specific to the city where the show is being presented. Director Alexandre Fecteau reworked Chris Abraham’s original staging. He directs performers Pierre-Yves Charbonneau, Jean-Philippe Côté, Rosalie Cournoyer, Andawa Laveau, Marie-Ève ​​Lussier and Christian Paul.

At La Bordée, from September 17 to October 12

Luc Boulanger, The Press

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Strings

The dramatic comedy Strings addresses contemporary masculinity and the paternal bond. At the heart of the story, the characters highlight the rivalries and resentments that can arise within a sibling group, the chasm of the absence of a father figure, the endless quest for recognition and possible reconciliation. To defend this score, Étienne Pilon, Victor Cuéllar and Christian Rangel (Homicide) play three brothers in their thirties, who have painful relationships, find themselves reunited for a journey that will take them to see their father, whom they have not seen for 20 years. The text is written by Mexican author Bárbara Colio, in a staging by Inés Adán Mozo and Margarita Herrera Domínguez.

At the Little Unicorn, until September 27

Luc Boulanger, The Press

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The demagogy of dragons

In the small room of the Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, the author Tamara Nguyen and the director Vincent Kim offer The demagogy of the dragons. This half-documentary, half-satirical play questions the tendency that pushes minority artists – here, of Vietnamese origin – to dissect their identity in the theater. Through “the absurd expectations and stereotypes” that the majority imposes on them. The performances are performed by Dominick Rustam and Claudia Chan Tak.

At the Jean-Claude-Germain hall, from September 16 to October 11

Luc Boulanger, The Press

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Jayden (in 5 to 7)

Duceppe presents the show Jaydena short comedy “that tackles the myth of parental happiness and work-life balance.” Created and defended by the couple Sara Karel Chiasson and Mathieu Lepage, who play their alter egos on stage, the play stars Cindy and Fabrice, two perfect parents who hope to find a place in daycare for their little treasure… Jayden. The actors will share the stage with, among others, their own 3-year-old son… David Strasbourg is directing. Remember that Duceppe’s five-to-seven formula is inspired by the Scottish concept A Play, a Pie and a PintIt offers short plays of 50 to 60 minutes, presented behind the scenes of the theater, and accompanied by a snack and a drink included in the ticket price.

At Duceppe, from September 17 to October 4

Luc Boulanger, The Press

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Montreal-Marrakech

The season opens at the Agora de la danse with a contrasting encounter between two metropolises. From Montreal to Marrakech, Morocco, the new creation by choreographers Danièle Desnoyers and Taoufiq Izeddiou (also artistic director of the On Marche Festival in Marrakech) is intended to be an artistic encounter at the crossroads of two worlds, where the creators wanted to confront their artistic visions and approaches to give birth to a completely new choreographic writing. The work, which aims to make us think about the relationship with others through four performers from diverse cultural backgrounds (Myriam Arseneault and Abe Simon Mijnheer on the Montreal side, Chourouk El Mahati and Moad Haddadi on the Marrakech side) has already been well received at the Montpellier Danse festival, as well as at the On Marche Festival.

At the Agora de la danse, from September 18 to 20

Iris Gagnon-Paradis, The Press

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