Photo — Frédérique Ménard-Aubin

Photo — Yves Renaud

Theater
14 years and up
Canada

Classique(s)

Orange Noyée

Apr 30 — May 2, 2025

120 min., with no intermission Hydro-Québec Auditorium

Ended

Description

What is a classic? Why is one play still performed while another snores away under the thick blanket of Time? A joyful mix of ideas about the works we call “classics,” this show is both eloquent and irreverent (and perhaps even a little provocative). It’s about observing the immutable Time to understand the disruptive Now.

Mani Soleymanlou has set aside autofiction and identity-based issues for a bit to focus on his preferred form of expression: the theatre. He asked the formidable thinker and playwright Fanny Britt, along with a brilliant team of performers, musicians and designers, to dare to play unabashedly with the showy material we call classics. Is there a tried-and-true formula to create one? Is Tit-Coq one? And what if the Honorable Steven Guilbeault were sort of like a Canadian Hamlet?

Despite its playful appearance, the play is serious. In it, we discover an authentic desire to offer those of our era the luxury of having distance to contemplate ourselves. Onstage Phedra, Andromache and other ghosts of the theatrical past are invoked so they can come offer live commentary on the chaotic social, political, economic and artistic game that is now being played out in our collapsing world.

Show Times

Wednesday April 30, 2025 7:30 p.m. Ended

Thursday May 1, 2025 7:30 p.m. Ended

Friday May 2, 2025 7:30 p.m. Ended

Cast

Louise Cardinal
Martin Drainville
Kathleen Fortin
Julie Le Breton
Jean-Moïse Martin
Benoit McGinnis
Madeleine Sarr
Mani Soleymanlou
Musicians
Alexis Elina (piano), Mélanie Bélair (violin) and Annie Gadbois (cello)

Credit

Text Fanny Britt and Mani Soleymanlou
Direction Mani Soleymanlou
Assistance to the Direction and Stage Manager Jean Gaudreau
Intern Assistant Director Eric Vega
Set Design Martin Labrecque and Mani Soleymanlou
Lighting Design Martin Labrecque
Music Composition Philippe Brault
Costume Design Cynthia St-Gelais
Costume Assistant Sarah Chabrier
Costume Intern Charlotte Maréchal
Props Marie-Jeanne Rizkallah
Wig Design Sarah Tremblay
Mask Design and Production Marie Muyard
Makeup Design Amélie Bruneau-Longpré
Technical Direction Jenny Huot
Production and Tour Direction Charlotte Ménard
Executive Production Xavier Inchauspé
Associate Production Vanessa Beaupré and Marie-Laurence Rock
Production Orange Noyée
Co-production Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and the NAC French Theatre in co-presentation with Le Diamant

Reviews

« Mani Soleymanlou and Fanny Britt pull off the feat of blending warmth and coolness, gravity and lightness, humour and tragedy, surface and depth, in a whirlwind of a play—teeming, exuberant, where every actor shines with their own moment, their own colour, their own flavour (…) it’s good for the soul! »
Nathalie Petrowski, Ici Première

« A real tour de force (…) truly brilliant! (…) I wasn’t bored for a single second! »
Marc Cassivi, Ici Première

« Warning: you’ll fall in love with this one! (…) A masterful piece — wildly entertaining! »
Claudia Hébert, Ici Première

« Honestly, I had a blast for two straight hours without an intermission. I left the theatre on a high, so eager to talk about it on the radio, with the feeling I’d just seen a future classic. That’s how powerful it is. »
Catherine Brisson, 98.5 FM

« (...) a necessary and invigorating piece of theatre (…) The eight performers are impeccable, displaying the breadth of their talent (...) »
Journal de Montréal

« (...) a witty, touching and delightfully offbeat production, powered by a stellar cast. A show that truly hits home. (…) Both funny and intense, carefree and serious, flamboyant and insightful. Above all, profoundly human — and perfectly in tune with the times. »
La Presse

« To be or not to be a classic? The eight performers — actors, dancers and even singers, backed by musicians — engage in spirited debate. Under crisp, inventive direction, each one shines with remarkable poise. »
La Pieuvre

« Classique(s) offers moments of sheer grace (…) »
sorstu.ca

Public Partners

Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec