Challenged by the emergence of the #metoo movement five years ago, playwright Rébecca Déraspe decided to tackle the vast question of consent in her most recent creation, The ICES. His subject, very nuanced and of great sensitivity, manages to move, despite a certain scattering.
Posted yesterday at 1:00 p.m.
The play presented at La Licorne tells the story of Noémie, whose teenage son is accused of having sexually assaulted Jeanne, a classmate. This event convinces her to face those who, 25 years ago, made her suffer the same fate: Vincent and Sébastien (Christian Michaud and Olivier Normand, both very fair). An accusing text message is launched and the two men with an orderly life – one is a university professor, the other is a psychologist – will see their existence rock.
The two adult attackers find themselves in their native Bas-du-Fleuve with the hope of putting an end to this story that they had buried very deeply in their memory. To the point that this memory and the emotions that accompanied it have ended up evaporating over the years.
But will they be able to face the consequences of their actions, ask forgiveness from the one they hurt and fix what they broke? There is so much to lose for them. Their entourage is not spared. And the two men don’t necessarily agree on what happened that day…
Speak up
To let the spoken word occupy all the space, Maryse Lapierre opted for a very sober staging, all in destitution, where the direction of the actors takes precedence over scenic inventiveness.
Valérie Laroche embodies with great dignity and finesse the character through whom everything happens, Noémie. She also delivers a poignant monologue that brought tears to several spectators. In the role of Jeanne, the teenager raped by the son of Noémie, Marine Johnson impresses with her confidence. Daniel Gadouas (excellent in the role of Vincent’s father!), Debbie Lynch-White and Anna Beaupré Moulounda are also very truthful, their lines ranging from tragic to comical.
Because yes, we laugh in this piece that Rébecca Déraspe wanted without heaviness or easy accusation. There are no monsters here. There are only humans on stage struggling with their weaknesses, their cowardice, their fears.
Only, the playwright wanted to brush very broadly on the notion of consent. His text addresses the question of forgiveness, the education of girls and boys, female solidarity, the relationship to desire, the difficult legal process for rape victims… Many very interesting threads that could have (and would have deserved ) to be dug further.
Result: the play ends and several threads remain hanging, the playwright having preferred ellipsis to allow everyone to imagine what will happen to these men and women adrift. A choice which is explained, but which left us on our hunger.
The ICES
By Rébecca Déraspe, directed by Maryse Lapierre. With Anna Beaupré Moulounda, Daniel Gadouas, Marine Johnson, Debbie Lynch-White, Christian Michaud and Olivier Normand.
At The Unicorn.Until November 5th.