After a hiatus that lasted nearly two years, the Théâtre de la Ligue Nationale d’Improvisation (LNI) found its ice rink, its players and, above all, a conquered audience at Club Soda on Monday, the initial day of the reopening of the theaters. show in Quebec.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Indeed, it is the LNI that has returned the honor of marking the return of indoor shows since the closure imposed by Public Health on December 20. For the improvisers as for the spectators, the emotion was palpable, in particular when the singer Émile Bilodeau sang the national anthem of the LNI, accompanied by many members of the public.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Sophie Thibeault, Salomé Corbo and Frédéric Barbusci were able to appreciate the full extent of this return to play when the national anthem was sung at the start of the match.
“It’s super exciting to get back on stage on day one of the reopening of the halls,” said Simon Rousseau, deputy artistic director of the LNI and chief referee during the Charade Cup matches, when The Press met him before the game. “We are really blessed to experience this. »
A feeling shared by François-Étienne Paré, artistic director of the LNI. “We are in a state of feverishness, nervousness and great emotion. »
We were the last show at Club Soda before the closing of 2020 and we find ourselves to be, according to our research, the first show in Quebec for the reopening of the halls…
François-Étienne Paré, artistic director of the LNI
Since March 8, 2020, almost for two years (or 701 days to be precise: the organizers have done the math), the LNI ice rink has remained empty, and the players have left their jerseys sleeping in the back of the cupboards. It’s a long period for artists for whom improvisation quickly becomes “an addiction”, to use the words of François-Étienne Paré.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Salomé Corbo and Jean-François Aubé have returned to the LNI ice rink.
reunion
The experienced improviser Salomé Corbo confirms this: “My morale really needed to find the LNI. This match is a bit like reuniting with old colleagues with whom we have played for 20 years, but whom we have not seen for 2 years. »
“I didn’t believe it before the day before the match, said Marie Eve Morency. I was afraid that the rooms would close again at the last minute! “The improviser adds:” It’s a little scary to come back to the game, but it’s nothing compared to the grandiose happiness we have to start again. I think we will test the water in the pool in the first two games, to adapt. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Réal Bossé was the first player to arrive at Club Soda on Monday. And the first to get on the ice for the game.
Réal Bossé, whose first match in the LNI dates back to 1995, had the same speech before the match. “After two years of absence, we don’t know how it will go. Usually, we have all the rights to this ice rink, but there, we will have to live with the health constraints. And we are touchy, taponneux at the LNI! »
Indeed, the players had to respect a distance of one meter during the improvisations (made without a mask). And intermissions are not yet allowed to avoid the movement of spectators, the three periods of 30 minutes are linked without a break.
Reduced gauge
Monday evening’s show was held in front of a 50% reduced tonnage, for a total of 275 people. “It’s very moving that the public is there, that people have moved, that they have left their homes to see the theatre,” said Salomé Corbo before the match.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
On Monday, Club Soda was able to accommodate 275 spectators, half of its maximum capacity.
Among the spectators were Julianne Cartier and Juliette Chénier, two improvisers from Cégep Saint-Laurent. “It feels good to be here! It’s been so long. LNI players are pros! says Juliette Chénier.
Marielle Castonguay, a subscriber for three years, was also all smiles under her mask.
I’m happy ! I think this match is going to be effervescent! I did not hesitate for a second before coming. I’m not worried at all; I have my three vaccines!
Marielle Castonguay, spectator
Julianne Cartier was of the same opinion: “If they welcome the public, it is because they are ready. The tables are well separated. I am not afraid ! »
Since bar service was not offered, Club Soda was able to host Monday’s show with a reduced staff of around 15 employees, including technicians. But this number will be clearly insufficient when the halls can reopen to their maximum capacity, says Michel Sabourin, co-owner and president of Club Soda, who also acts as a spokesperson for independent performance halls in Quebec. “We’re going to be short-staffed. Several employees will not return. And until the theaters reopen at 100%, we will have a problem with the shows that are sold out. They will probably have to be postponed, because artists don’t necessarily want to play in front of an audience that can’t drink and can’t get up! But it’s not easy to find new dates on the calendar. »
“We will not be able to measure the extent of the damage caused by the closing of the rooms before the full resumption of activities. I don’t really know what state we’re going to be in…”, concludes Michel Sabourin.