The message is clear and well understood in the play ten fourmounted at La Licorne, but it is above all conveyed through a captivating story, mastered by actors at the height of the issues addressed.
Masterfully orchestrated by Didier Lucien who directs, this satire shows what systemic racism looks like, while having an entertaining form.
Created in 2019 in Toronto, the work of English-Canadian playwright Jason Sherman tells the work of a team of screenwriters who are working on writing a detective television series.
Under pressure to deliver a pilot project that will please the ruthless producer brilliantly interpreted by Marie-Hélène Thibault, the quartet gets bogged down due to the boss’s contradictory demands.
Then an incident occurs that will change the course of the story: the only black in the group is the victim of racial profiling by the police and he wants to draw inspiration from this misadventure in the creation of the scenario.
The latter, played brilliantly by Irdens Exantus, however faces the reluctance of the team leader, whom Norman Helms renders convincingly.
These two protagonists are surrounded by an energetic experienced screenwriter (Alexandre Fortin) and a green rookie who is struggling to find her place (Laura Amar).
Dynamic exchanges
Skilfully translated by Jean-Marc Dalpé, this dramatic comedy staged for the first time in French strings the lines at a frenzied pace. Rooted in spoken language, the sentences are short and lively.
We thus see the actors interrupting each other or hesitating as in real life. Everything is delivered with aplomb by an extremely solid distribution.
Didier Lucien offers a touch of originality and madness with a few scenographic elements that spice up the subject, without harming the action.
The question of racism, the power of power structures and conformism are intelligently brought up during this foray into the television industry. Police brutality is also very secondary in this story.
This carefully crafted piece is ideal for those who don’t frequent the theater often. Dynamic, relevant and well put together, it should appeal to a wide audience, including the most demanding.
► ten four is presented at La Licorne until March 2.
ten four ★★★★1/2
Directed by Didier Lucien
With Laura Amar, Irdens Exantus, Alexandre Fortin, Norman Helms and Marie-Hélène Thibault