It was November 15, 1999. A cold and monotonous Monday evening, like so many others in the northern crown. Julie Surprenant, 16, arrives at a bus stop near her home in Terrebonne… The next day, we learn of her disappearance. Despite several police investigations and significant media hype, the case remains unsolved.
If all of Quebec remembers the news item, some experienced this disappearance as a profound trauma, the after-effects of which are still there. This is the case of Sarianne Cormier, friend of Julie Surprenant in the 1990s.
In JulieSarianne Cormier testifies to the aftermath of this tragic event. Her piece pays tribute to her missing friend, but especially to the victim’s loved ones. The Théâtre La Manufacture production of La Licorne is, in his words, “a love letter to those who remain”. Julie returns to the repercussions of this mysterious disappearance on a group of teenagers, which we follow from the day after the night of November 15 until the end of school prom. That of the class of 2000 from Armand-Corbeil secondary school, who really didn’t have the heart to celebrate.
By seeing the play, we understand why, a quarter of a century later, those close to Julie Surprenant still carry around this trauma experienced during adolescence; because they were not “equipped to experience this”, despite the help of the authorities and the adults around them.
PHOTO SUZANNE O’NEIL, PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURE
Julie wants to be a love letter to those left behind.
Lack of perspective
The playwright also directs the show. Which explains (perhaps) a lack of perspective and some clumsiness in the production. The staging could have been tightened, because there are several fluctuations during the performance. In addition, Julie’s ghost is made to appear several times (played by an interpreter covered in a white sheet, with two holes for eyes and a bowler hat on his head!). Which is not the idea of the century: Julie’s ghost already hovers in the room that bears her name.
Among the young and solid cast, let us mention Lyna Khellef, bubbly and hilarious in the role of the friend who constantly needs attention. Jules Ronfard, touching in the skin of Marco, the one who, in his car, saw Julie for the last time. And who feels guilty for not having greeted her. Clémence Dufresne-Deslières plays Andrée, Julie’s sister. The actress contains her pain throughout the story, but will burst out at the end, during the very drunken after-prom. With her friends, she listens to the song I miss you from La Chicane. A magnificent scene which also made our eyes water.
PHOTO SUZANNE O’NEILL, PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURE
Madani Tall, Lyna Khellef and Valérie Tellos in Juliepresented at La Licorne in Montreal
At La Licorne, until November 16. Please note, the play will also be staged at the Théâtre Alphonse-Desjardins in Repentigny, from November 27 to 30.
Visit the part’s website
Julie
Text and direction by Sarianne Cormier.
With Pénélope Ducharme, Lyna Khellef, Jules Ronfard, Madani Tall, Valérie Tellos, Xavier Bergeron and Clémence Dufresne-Deslières.At La Licorne, until November 16 and at the Théâtre Alphonse-Desjardins in Repentigny, from November 27 to 30.