In the wonderful world of showbiz, the realm of insatiable egos and the eternally dissatisfied, Daniel Lemire is a man like no other: a satisfied man. Conversation about the status of the comedian with the person who is celebrating his 40th career anniversary.
Published at 1:22 am. Updated at 8:00 a.m.
Daniel Lemire’s new tour? “As the Chinese would say, it’s just fun,” explains the 67-year-old comedian. “I’m not here to break a sales record. I do this because the stage allows me to talk about what I want to talk about and because people still follow me, it’s no more complicated. What more could I ask for? »
Since turning 50, the veteran has slowed down significantly. This is because he gave a lot of himself during a time when he could host up to six shows a week for nine to ten months of the year. And that, as he himself says, “there is more to life than just humor.” An observation that he means both in a personal sense – he spent a lot of time in Mexico with his partner, the writer Lucie Dufresne, whose work focuses on the Mayan civilization – and in a social sense.
The veteran, who comes from a time when all the Quebec comedians could be counted on the fingers of two hands, is still one of the few representatives of his profession who takes a critical look at the media ubiquity of his colleagues and, above all, his, due to their tendency to speak out on all topics without regard to their expertise. Although he kneads the news dough and we suspect he leans more left than right, Lemire has always been careful not to spread his own opinions.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Daniel Lemire
I’ve never been so vocal about anything. Just because you’re famous doesn’t mean you have well-informed opinions on everything. At some point you have to show humility. Most of the time there is someone who knows more than you.
Daniel Lemire
And if he admires some of his cadets — notably Simon Gouache, Louis T and Rosalie Vaillancourt, with whom he performed a number in “Uncle Georges” at the Just for Laughs graduation gala this summer — you’re less likely to see Daniel Lemire among them meet the audience of a comedy evening at the Maison symphonique or in a dance show, “one of the art forms that moves me the most, even if I am anything but an expert”.
“And it is important that we continue to present a variety of shows across Quebec,” he argues. Humor should allow broadcasters to show programs that may be less crowded but are just as important, if not more important, to the culture. I’ve always thought just because your venue is full doesn’t mean you have the best show in town. I’ve already left rooms where there weren’t many people and floated. »
Above the fight
We don’t emphasize enough, says Louis T, the extent to which Daniel Lemire has been able to indulge in a kind of divisiveness over the last four decades, combining “very cabotinical humor and commentary on current events, characters and stand-up.” . He consistently pursued both approaches, which is extremely rare,” argues the man who could be considered his heir.
He subtly highlighted our society’s failings but avoided dividing his spaces. He always knew how to rise above partisanship and our quibbles.
Louis T
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESS ARCHIVE
With Yvon Deschamps and Pierre Légaré in 2008
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
With Dominique Michel in 1985
PRESS PHOTO ARCHIVE
Daniel Lemire in 1985
PRESS PHOTO ARCHIVE
Daniel Lemire as Uncle George
PRESS PHOTO ARCHIVE
The actors of SMASH, a series broadcast in 2005: Jean L’Italien, Louis-Georges Girard, Linda Sorgini and Daniel Lemire
1/5
Daniel Lemire continues to be successful in the zigzag between the fault lines of our proverbially polarized times. We can no longer say anything, we repeat ad nauseam in certain circles the decline in freedom of expression for artists. “That seems to me to be a clearly exaggerated interpretation of the situation,” he replies.
The biggest problem Daniel Lemire faces when it comes to making gags? “Many people stop listening to the news because they find it too depressing. » And that’s without taking into account that even if 2023 didn’t invent drama, “we now have to work very hard to find comic elements” in fear-inducing events like last summer’s wildfires.
A fascinated (and often incredulous) observer of American society, the Yvon Travail and Ronnie Dubé creator is also concerned about the influence of far-right leaders on the political life of our neighbors below, while he is pleased that Quebec is not giving in massively to this stinking wind .
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Daniel Lemire
We are very different from Americans, but we must be vigilant because these animators exploit people’s anger, compared to many false targets such as Muslims or transgender people. It can quickly get out of control.
Daniel Lemire
For the last time
Daniel Lemire considers this tour to be his last, without swearing that it will be the case, while he tries to adhere minimally, albeit to a certain point, to the practices in force around him. He presented around forty ongoing dates of this show, while in the early days the indoor rehearsals were more than sufficient.
Go on stage in a brothel? He attended the comedy cabaret on Ontario Street several times. “But I felt like the uncle who goes go-go dancing with the young people at Christmas,” he says and bursts out laughing.
Daniel Lemire was born in Drummondville in 1955 and remembers that his parents, factory workers who had to leave school too early, “couldn’t believe it [qu’il] put on a show and [qu’il] become known.” “It was so far from their world.”
“And you know, my father was happy when I did a number with Jean Lapointe [en 1993 à Juste pour rire]. For him the Jerolas were idols. In his eyes it had finally consecrated me. ” What more ?
October 3rd at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts and touring Quebec