After radio, TV and several People’s Album, the abundant and quirky universe of François Pérusse arrives on stage. Result: a stunning condensed version of the prolific humorist’s exploded universe.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
No sound emanates from the actors. The actors rather take up Ariel Charest’s recipe for success by making lipsync, while a soundtrack pre-recorded by François Pérusse escapes from the speakers. Their performance is convincing, especially when you consider the speed of the comedian’s flow of words. We also salute their cardiovascular capacities. Whether they’re performing choreographed dances, running up and down stairs, returning from backstage after a quick costume change, or just sharing the cue, they never appear tired.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Although only a handful of bursts of laughter were heard during the show, the particularly attentive audience seemed to appreciate this incursion into the Peruvian kingdom. The crowd gave a warm welcome to certain now cult sketches and characters, including Jean-Charles, this jovial friend, slightly annoying, ready to do anything to help his loved ones, played by Joseph Martin. Community radio host Louis-Paul Fafard Allard, the guy who shops for a ski-doo and Tata Boutlamine also drew applause.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The staging of the show is by Guillaume Lambert, who was carefully watching the final result, among the festival-goers, when our photographer passed by on the esplanade. In addition to sketches, the show includes a few humorous songs from Pérusse’s repertoire, including my gym teacher (to the earworm tune Pump Up the Jam of Technotronic), Fog over the cemetery, My little dog And Snack bar at Raymond’swith cowboy hats, hot dog costume and jeans jacket with fringes.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
No need to have listened to all 16 People’s Album hundreds of times or having carefully followed the radio and television career of François Pérusse to appreciate the proposal of the Just for Laughs festival. The proof ? Even if we lacked references on certain excerpts (unlike several spectators who recited each line word for word) and that we sometimes struggled to follow (lack of clear common thread), we never picked up. To see the number of enthusiastic children in the audience, we see that the work of the comedian transcends generations.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The texts of François Pérusse had already been brought to the small screen (The DayNul, Pérusse City), but they had never been the subject of a stage adaptation in due form. According to our timer, The 20 minutes of the people stretch over 24 minutes and 20 seconds, the equivalent of a dozen 2-minute capsules. We leave the show slightly dazed, but satisfied to have reconnected with Mona and several other comic heroes who accompanied our long car journeys as a family when we were little.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
To kill time while waiting for the start of the show, instead of enduring the seldom-right vocal flights of passers-by in the karaoke area, you can grab your smart phone – and your headphones – to complete the François Pérusse themed “fun tour”. Rather simplistic, the questions will not appeal to any adult, but for each correct answer, you will hear an extract from Pérusse’s repertoire which will bring back fond memories and, above all, make you forget the festival-goers who massacre zombie cranberries, Dana’s tribe from Manau or Barbie Girl of Aqua.
The show The 20 minutes of the people is offered at Place Loto-Québec until Saturday. Three performances per evening: 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. It’s free.