PARIS | William Cloutier as a gangster? Why not ? The singer steps away from his usual cast, sullying his tidy image by lending his features to tough guy Johnny Rockfort in the new version of the rock opera starmania.
William Cloutier is the first to admit it, the character of Johny Rockfort is far from where his Quebec fans would expect him. But France is the ideal place to get out of your comfort zone and your usual register at this point. Until now unknown to this public, he holds in his hand a blank page that he can color as he sees fit, without coming up against any a priori.
“I am often imagined in the roles of a young first, of a sensitive boy. I understand it very well, that’s what people know about me. But it’s fun to be able to get away from who I am, to have a composition role like that of Johnny Rockfort. Every evening I have a virgin audience of 3,800 new spectators to win over, ”says the singer, met by The newspaper at the musical Seine, a performance hall where starmania settles in for three months of performances.
He is not the only one to take on this role; he shares it with Lucien Carreau, dit Côme, for the duration of the tour. If he “officially” has the title of understudy, William Cloutier is not a simple substitute or a snack on which to fall back in need. Indeed, he puts on the clothes of Johnny Rockfort every week – sometimes for several performances – in addition to being on stage for all the shows. Because when Côme takes the lead, the Quebecer becomes part of the choir, both vocally and physically.
“It’s a very formative experience; I discover my dancing skills and I have the chance to interpret the most difficult songs that I have had to sing in my entire life”, he explains.
A “beautiful vertigo”
For William Cloutier, the adventure starmania represents a “beautiful vertigo”, he who is now in the City of Light without his spouse of the last 10 years and their sons Éloi and Liam, aged 20 months and 6 years respectively. It goes without saying that the distance weighs on his father’s heart.
“I am far from my people, far from my bearings. My son celebrated his six years without his father last month, ”he says sheepishly.
“But at the same time, I’m connected like never before to what I love. It’s an extremely stimulating challenge and it’s an incredible human experience to be able to work with such talented and passionate artists,” continues William Cloutier.
Hesitation
He doesn’t hide it all the same; this opportunity may well be that of a lifetime, he hesitated before packing up and settling in Paris, leaving his routine in Quebec.
But his experience Star Academy – where he was separated from his family for several weeks – gave him the confidence to take the leap.
“We call each other every day. I feel far away, but I also feel all the support from my lover. This is what is beautiful about our couple; we support each other and we hold each other through everything and we always come out winners,” he says.
- rock opera starmania is presented in Paris until January 29.