Victor and the Gift of Dreams | take time to slow down

The importance given to employment, success and money in life is at the center of the new creation of the Théâtre de la Dame de Cœur, Victor and the Gift of Dreams. Like the main character in the play, do you sometimes say to yourself, “I’m just doing work”? The invitation to slow down launched by this oversized puppet show should call out to you.

Veronique Larocque
The Press

The chirping of birds, the lapping of the river, the fresh air of the countryside: all these elements that surround the public at the Théâtre de la Dame de Cœur call for calm. “This show is very immersive,” says director Richard Blackburn. So much so that as soon as you arrive at this enchanting site, located in the village of Upton, before the play even begins, you taste the less unbridled life of which Victor and the Gift of Dreams.

During his 25^e anniversary, Victor, an ambitious young employee, vows “to succeed”. Whoever believes that work and money will take him far in life is advised by a careerist and ravenous rodent.

Mr. Blackburn clarifies that the inspiration for the piece comes from the book pensive the hamsterfrom D^r Serge Marquess.

“To explore this idea, we decided to use the dream”, continues the one who is also artistic and general director of the Théâtre de la Dame de Cœur. “In the dream, the narration can be truly free. We follow the evolution of our protagonist in a very unusual, very eccentric way, in a total scenographic explosion. »

The tall Victor, an impressive oversized puppet, remains dozing for most of the show. It is a much smaller Victor, that of dreams, that we follow on the huge castle of 180 degrees. Alternately, he interacts with the miserly hamster, but also with his childhood piggy bank, a giant tightrope walker, a snail created from slippers and even a spoon-shaped alien. “Very unusual, very wacky. Richard Blackburn said it well.

For kids ?

In the dreams of this anxious dreamer, the character of the grandmother leads Victor to review his priorities. “It’s nice to work, but you also have to think about everything else”, “retired or not, it’s always good to slow down” and “taking your time, it’s not wasting it” are some of the wise words, signed by Marilyn Perreault, that the grandmother has for her grandson and, by extension, for the public.

“A theme like this will be closer to adults,” says Richard Blackburn.

Will the kids still enjoy the show? To see the many young faces delighted at the end of the play, we conclude that yes. They will not necessarily understand the same things as adults, however, had told The Press the director before the performance.

Verification made with the two girls aged 7 and 8 with whom we attended the play: he was right. Where adults see a metaphor between the hamster and anxiety, they only see it as a funny animal. When we say that Victor is 25 years old, they think he is a child, especially because he is smaller than his grandmother. Moreover, this character of grandma cake was very popular with little girls.

But beyond the story, it is above all the scenography that impresses in this open-air theater comprising 500 swivel seats.

He and his team are always looking for exploded ways to use all these dimensions. A hot air balloon and flying saucer soaring through the air, a turkey fight in the crowd, or a giant snail stopping inches from the audience are examples that show how the theater experience in Upton is so different and captivating.

For the first time since the creation of the theater 46 years ago, some elements even arise from the ground. “We rebuilt the platform on which the public is, but with a basement,” explains Richard Blackburn. In his eyes, this novelty opens the door to many possibilities.

Victor and the Gift of Dreams is presented until August 21 at the Théâtre de la Dame de Cœur.