“Have you ever eaten grass? Have you ever run over ants? Cut a cat’s whiskers? Written on the wall with a Sharpie? In a direct address to attentive, surprised and playful little spectators, Sophie (Elizabeth Mageren) lists the various stupidities she has already committed. But this summer, she says, it will be different. She promises to be good. A promise difficult to keep, especially when a certain Marguerite, a model little girl, arrives at the family chalet and reverses her plans.
In a free adaptation of the Comtesse de Ségur’s classic written in 1858, Pascale St-Onge takes up some characters from the trilogy — Sophie’s misfortune, Imodel little girls And Holidays — and sets the scene in that of the holidays. On stage, childhood is queen. The only adult to be heard and seen is Sophie’s mother who will appear a few times in the form of a mannequin played and humorously manipulated by Amélie Clément. The entire space gives free rein to freedom, the spontaneity of the relationship between cousins, friendship, misunderstandings and of course, the many nonsense and jealousies aroused by Sophie. We will particularly remember this wax doll, white, offered by her father, which she decides to sit in the sun in order to give her a rosy complexion. Unfortunately, while having fun with Paul (Xavier Bergeron), she forgets the doll, which melts under the effect of the heat. The successful effect will make the children present in Campbell Park react, including one who wonders “how did they manage to burn his head”.
In a language and references adapted to the XXIe century, St-Onge retains the essence of this young girl, overflowing with life, sensitive and who basically only asks to have fun and to be loved. Elizabeth Mageren plays for this purpose a daring, sassy, but so endearing Sophie, ready to do anything to keep away her summer rival, the too perfect Marguerite (Caroline Payeur) whom everyone seems to appreciate.
indomitable nature
If the story revised by St-Onge has everything to touch the spectators and reconcile the parents with the beauties of a turbulent childhood, the staging of Justin Laramée is just as anchored to the vivacity and the marginality of the character of Sophie. Breaking of the fourth wall, stopping of the scenes to think about the continuation, reversals in the course of the play, fine and ingenious use of the stage of La Roulotte, the show is a series of twists, surprises, like the colorful character of the Countess of Ségur. The actors will also stop for a moment to wonder if they can really present such things to children: Sophie inflates and bursts in particular a green balloon, simulating a frog, tears the “favorite dress of the whole summer” of his cousin Camille, etc.
And nature, in phase with this piece interspersed with explanations, details, in phase also with this indomitable Sophie, with her unpredictable character, appeared some ten minutes before the end. The threatening and cloudy sky forced the organizers to end this energetic performance. Fortunately, it is to see, or to see again, in the parks of the city of Montreal until the end of August.