They were in the same class in the first year of primary school, but it was at age 10, after a green class with the school, that their friendship was sealed. Three decades later, this unalterable bond continues between Fanny Britt and Alexia Bürger, to the point of being at the heart of their play All things.
Posted at 8:00 a.m.
For writer Fanny Britt and director Alexia Bürger, friendship is a self-evident theme. Their very first joint play, they decided to weave it by dwelling not on an anonymous or generic friendship, but by drawing inspiration from their own history, by drawing on this extraordinary relationship which binds them together. to the other.
To interpret their alter ego, they chose actresses in whom they could recognize themselves: Sophie Cadieux in the role of the Brunette, Kathleen Fortin in that of the Redhead. “We didn’t want to work with old friends; matter is so close to us, explains Alexia Bürger. It’s a dream to be able to direct these two virtuoso performers. »
PHOTO DAVID OSPINA, FROM THE THÉÂTRE DE QUAT’SOUS WEBSITE
Sophie Cadieux (at the front) in the role of the Brunette (Alexia Bürger), Kathleen Fortin in that of the Rousse (Fanny Britt) in the play All things
Like Alexia Bürger and Fanny Britt, who spent their entire primary, secondary and college education side by side, the Brunette and the Redhead don’t need to tell each other everything to understand each other. They share the same story, often complement each other’s thoughts, can discuss anything and everything… and have an unconditional love for the film. Stand-by-Me. “We saw it quickly after its release in 1986; we were 11 years old, ”recalls Fanny Britt. The latter fell for the shy Wil Wheaton, while her accomplice only had eyes for River Phoenix. Several replicas of the French version of this cult work by Rob Reiner dot the text.
The art of keeping friendships alive
In adolescence, it is in front of the film My Own Private Idaho that their friendship continued to blossom. Alexia hadn’t changed her mind about River Phoenix; Fanny was writing love letters in her diary to Keanu Reeves! “And I was compiling a list of the women he kissed,” the playwright laughs.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The complicity is palpable between the two women.
It was also together that they discovered an all-consuming passion for theater at the end of high school. “We came to the Quat’Sous, where we discovered contemporary theater and the great English-language texts translated for the first time,” says Fanny Britt. I remember we worshiped piecemeal Years, by Cindy Lou Johnson, in which Markita Boies played, adds Alexia Bürger. The Threepenny has been fundamental in our lives. »
It is therefore naturally in this institution of the avenue des Pins Est that the two designers have chosen to present their first joint creation. Admittedly, they have worked side by side a few times over the past ten years – notably for the writing of the play. Lysiscommissioned by the director and director of the TNM, Lorraine Pintal –, but All things is the first real theatrical project for two. “This is the first time that I have had the privilege of directing a text by Fanny,” says Alexia Bürger. “If we exclude the play I wrote in first secondary for English class,” adds his accomplice.
Does the gesture of staging a text written by a quasi-sister come with additional pressure? “We have a relationship of mutual trust so great that it protects us in a way,” says the director.
At the start, of course, there was a real desire in me to impress him. This desire that she like my text was a driving force. And from the first reading, I felt that she understood what I meant.
Fanny Britt, about working with Alexia Bürger
“This text is so alive, there is everything in there. The paintings accumulate, the colors overlap. It’s precious and rare, this cohesion,” says Alexia Bürger.
Fanny Britt responds immediately: “It would have been impossible for me to write this text for someone else. She turns to her friend: “I wrote like that because it was you.” She continues: “Romantic love is often depicted in fiction. It’s good that, for once, it’s friendship we’re celebrating…”
friendship without expectations
But what is friendship? The two creators asked themselves the question many times during the development of this “particularly precious” project. “In a way, intimacy in friendship is greater than intimacy in love. In friendship, we have more the ability to go into our vulnerability, ”believes Alexia Bürger.
Fanny Britt continues: “A friend can give you perspective when you need it. It is an intimacy free from expectations, a relationship that escapes all obligation. In our case, we don’t do anything special to maintain our friendship. It is she who waters us. And those around us know that this space between us is sacred. »
The room All things is presented at the Théâtre de Quat’Sous until May 14.