"Parents Take Notice": The Suffering of the Modern Wealthy
Théâtre du Rideau Vert's Latest Production: A Unbridled Comedy
preparations for a comedic masterpiece by French siblings Armelle and Emmanuel Patron, with a cinematic adaptation looming on the horizon. A duo of senior citizens (Josée Deschênes and Luc Senay) embark on a daring quest to establish an orphanage in Cambodia. Their trio of adult children (Steve Gagnon, Sonia Cordeau, and Simon Beaulé-Bulman), miring in uncertainty over their retired educator parents' capacities to manage the necessary funding, discover that they've won the lottery. Ecstasy sets in, as they fantasize about their own riches growing by association. However, this fervent joy crumbles, unveiling a wholly different objective.
The comedic premise unravels threads of enlightening questions. Could financial affluence transform into a source of corruption, hindering personal growth and insight? What obligations do parents harbor towards their grown-up offspring? Can leftist philosophies, particularly in terms of wealth distribution, endure transformation into fortune? Is it possible to arrive at contentment with monetary wealth when the prospect of another fortune arises?
All these concerns collide during a visit to the family home of the progeny, triggering a series of conflicts and reconciliations in a middle-class Laurentian living room designed by Loïc Lacroix Hoy. Empathy and greed clash, culminating in a rather comedic final scene where the youngsters, driven by covetousness, bind and menace their elders with a gun.
In Your Face Comedy
Stepping away from the production's typically realistic tone, Steve Gagnon's portrayal of the eldest offspring unfortunately veers into exaggerated and eccentric behaviour. In contrast, the other cast members (notably Simon Beaulé-Bulman, appearing as the middle child, a vulnerable and timid adult) display moderation and sensitivity in their acting. The rationale behind this unconventional approach remains unclear.
In general, the play's staging demonstrates a lack of subtlety. On one hand, the living room wall – symbolizing the sanctuary of the family unit – cracks and family portraits break, only to find humor taking flight and prospering elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, the intended humor flounders, preventing it from fully forming.
Despite this comedic rockiness, the play resonates with Quebec society, thanks to the adaptation by Danielle Laurin (with an unmistakable allusion to the Lavigueur family). There is one scene, however, that transition relevantly from one culture to another. The father momentarily succumbs to an opulence frenzy, outlining the various scandalous applications of his newfound wealth, from hiring sex workers to enacting mimed renditions of his imaginary trysts in front of his spouse and children. Perhaps here, too, a light touch of finesse in the staging could have smoothed out the hard edges.
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- The unconventional approach of the play, steering away from subtlety, is evident in Steve Gagnon's portrayal as the eldest child, who exhibits an over-the-top and eccentric behavior, in stark contrast to the moderation and sensitivity demonstrated by other cast members like Simon Beaulé-Bulman.
- The play, inspired by the Lavigueur family and adapted by Danielle Laurin, resonates with Quebec society, providing a satirical commentary on societal issues, such as the handling of wealth and the clash between empathy and greed.
- The comedic play, amidst its rocky humor, features a scene that transcends cultural boundaries, where the father, driven by a frenzy of opulence, humorously outlines his imaginative and scandalous plans for his newfound wealth, ranging from hiring sex workers to enacting mimed renditions of his trysts in front of his family.
- The comedic production 'French fortunes' also delves into liberal philosophies, questioning whether financial affluence could lead to corruption and hinder personal growth, and whether a sudden windfall might challenge one's contentment with existing wealth.
