Photos by María Alejandra Gamboa Bello
Last Thursday 23rd, in the opening night performance, The Great Canadian Theatre Company and The Théâtre la Cutapulte came together to launch Les Passants. Assistants enjoyed a play full of passions, trusts, risks, fears, illusions and disappointments. Les Passants reminds us, from the beginning, of one of the most important universal literature works: Divine Comedy and its inferno´s circles.
Luc Moquin was successfully responsible for showing us, through the play, that in our daily life we can see and be individual passers-by, but with similar and intertwined stories which we are never going to know, if we consider our current and hectic social environment. We could see a sort of alienation, taking into account everything that must be aligned or coordinated to reach from small things to the greatest. At the same time, we saw individualism, due to our desire to have or do what we want, without stopping to think, for an instant, its usefulness or how we are losing our environment. Many times it tends to be more of a whim than necessity, and that affects our immediate surroundings.
According to Luc Moquin, Playwright, “with this play, I tried to capture the individual destinies that quietly pass on the street, and that are less marked by tragic suffering or epic adventures, but rather by short and sudden flashes where something real or sensitive is revealed and makes sense –something that gives us energy and reason to keep moving forward”.
But also we had the possibility to see the relationships in our contemporary society, in which is hard to express emotions and feelings. Even worst, when we express our feelings –and they are mistreated- we make sure never to show them again. As if that were not enough, Les Passants navigates in the fantasies and in the search of sex through of a simple knock on the door.
In words of Jean Stéphane, Director and Artistic Director: “rather than presenting a critical view, the play tries to shed new light on the situation and offers a humorous outlook on our individual and collective development. This play is based on the hope of a better world”.
During the opening night performance, what I most enjoyed was the ability of the play to generate different interpretations, taking into account our own and personal environment and our lived experiences. Due to its bilingual format, this play aims at introducing a French play to its English audience and opens up English theater to French audiences. It could become one of the best ways to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary because it commemorates the country’s dual Anglophone and Francophone heritage.
All people should support them and go to see this terrific work!
Regarding the set, it composed by the screen backdrop to the rear, lights, shadows (passers-by) and also little panels or doors at the stage sides, through which the actors could enter and leave the stage. Needless to say, four great and versatile actors (Mélanie Beauchamp, Benjamin Gaillard, Andrée Rainville and Yves Turbide), a great creation and production team, and an excellent selection of music were the deadly weapons of this play. In short words, this play shows us that with a bright idea, together with a professional and synchronized team, the public can connect and identify themselves, as well as enjoy a good time in the theater.
Do not miss to see them at The Great Canadian Theatre Company until March 12, 2017. What better plan to celebrate, for example, women´s Day?
