There is no shortage of out-of-the-ordinary proposals in the abundant theatrical season that is beginning. Starting with the ambitious epic Romewhich will be assembled at Factory C by Brigitte Haentjens in the spring, with an impressive distribution. Woven from five Roman plays by Shakespeare, some of which have never been presented here, the text adapted by Jean Marc Dalpé promises to be a reflection on power and democracy.
Not trivial either to see two Quebec creations devoted to iconic painters. First, the highly anticipated Riopelle Project of Robert LePage, at Duceppe. The production of Ex Machina, which marks the return to the stage of Luc Picard, seizes Jean Paul Riopelle at two times, through his art, but also through his relationship with Joan Mitchell, camped in particular by Anne-Marie Cadieux. Adapted by Larry Tremblay from his eponymous novel, End Table of Love is rather inspired by the life of Francis Bacon. The new director of Factory C, Angela Konraddirects Benoît McGinnis — who we will also see in the musical show Hedwig and raging thumb ridden by Rein Richard Cyrat Studio TD — and Samuël Côté in a duet between the painter and his lover.
This will not be the only work by Tremblay presented this season, since the director KatherineVidal brings his fascinating piece back to life Abraham Lincoln goes to the theater, with an engaging quartet of performers. Also presented at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, I’m writing to you in the middle of a beautiful storm draws from the love correspondence between Albert Camus (Steve Gagnon) and the actress Maria Casarès (Anne Dorval), under the pen of Dany Boudreault and the direction of Maxime Carbonneau.
As an actor, Boudreault also rubbed shoulders with romanticism in sky castles, by embodying a historical figure, Ludwig II, young King of Bavaria. A creation by Marie-Claude Verdier — recent winner of the Michel-Tremblay prize for Seeker —, edited by the director of the Denise-Pelletier theater (TDP), Claude Poissant. And with the makerDirected by Alice Ronfard, the TDP offers a rare opportunity to discover the theater of… Balzac. A comedy about financial capitalism adapted by Gabrielle Chapdelaine.
Among the promising creations, let us mention If you want light at the Prospero, a contemporary version of the Faust by Goethe, written by a dozen French-speaking authors. In the adventure conceived by the director Florent Siaud, an oncologist tries to save a beloved patient from death. And, speaking of science, with you are animalJean-Philippe Baril Guérard imagines the media controversy that Darwin’s publication of his theory of evolution in 2022 would create. A satire directed by Patrice Dubois. Also at Quat’Sous: Thousanda unique creation written by Olivier Kemeid and directed by Mani Soleymanlouan investigation into the origins of actress Monique Spaziani, who plays it herself.
The Jean Duceppe company is also offering a first by bringing an Innu world to the stage, embodied by seven native performers. Manikanetish, an adaptation of Naomi Fontaine’s acclaimed novel by her and Julie-Anne Ranger-Beauregard, sheds light on the relationship between a teacher and her students on the Uashat reserve. A staging of Jean-Simon Traversy.
around women
Who would have thought that comedy two golden women, a cult film from 1970, would one day inspire a playwright? In this free adaptation where she reconnects with the director of Baby-Sitter, Philip Lambert, the biting Catherine Léger exposes “the double standard” imposed on women in matters of sexuality. At The Unicorn.
At Espace Go, the artist in residence Emilie Monnet orchestrates a “festive event”, Neecheemuswhich will present the words of eight creators, indigenous and black, on the themes of love and eroticism.
Clandestines, a “political thriller” created by the prolific creative duo Marie-Ève Milot and Marie-Claude Saint-Laurent, explores the hot topic of anti-abortion groups in a dystopian Canada. Also at the Center du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui (CTD’A), The girls of the Saint-Lawrence deploys a choir of female voices, imagined by the author of sensitive The ICESRébecca Déraspe, in collaboration with Annick Lefebvre and given birth by Alexia Burger. And in Good looking guypresented at the small hall Jean-Claude Germain, the Canadian Erin Shields (If the birds) satirizes stereotypes by depicting a world where women are dominant.
With A dollhouse, 2e part, American Lucas Hnath has come up with a well-received sequel to Ibsen’s classic. At the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Marie France Lambert directs Macha Limonchik as Nora, who returns, 15 years later, to the home she left to emancipate herself. Finally, at Free Space, Sportriarchyof Claire Renaudexamines, with humor it is said, an interesting subject: the media representation of women in sports.