From Je suis Cobain (whatever) to the Corps Célestes, Dany Boudreault is connected to the cutting edge of creation in Quebec. This week the actor returns to the Théâtre Denise-Pelletier stage five years after his impressive puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In Châteaux du ciel he plays Ludwig II of Bavaria, an extraordinary king. And less crazy than you think.
Posted at 7:00 am
He is an extraordinary, extravagant, fascinating king! Ludwig von Wittelsbach, crowned Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, aged 19, has been the subject of several ballets, operas, plays and films, including the memorable Ludwig – Die Götterdämmerung by Visconti, starring Helmut Berger and Romy Scheinder.
Cousin of Empress Sissi, bisexual and devout Catholic, enthusiastic about music, patron and protractor of Richard Wagner, Ludwig II was, according to Boudreault, “a prime example of philanthropy”. “He really believes in the beauty of art to save the world,” says the “great Germanophile” actor, who speaks German.
Contrary to popular belief, Dany Boudreault believes that Ludwig wasn’t crazy. “In any case, I’m not acting crazy,” says the actor, who will defend the role on the TDP stage until April 15. “He’s being ousted for his so-called insanity. I see him more as an idealistic, dysfunctional, prenatal queer king. A king who fits neither his time nor the system. And a deeply lonely man. »
Castles in the Air is signed by Marie-Claude Verdier, staged by Claude Poissant. In 2022, the young author won the Michel-Tremblay prize for the best text written on stage, that of Seeker. “Marie-Claude is an amazing writer with an extraordinary imagination! She wrote a science fiction text (Seeker) right after this historical drama, structured like an epic, with a touch reminiscent of romantic authors like Schiller or Victor Hugo,” he argues.
The dark side of the king
For the actor, “Châteaux du ciel” is not another king’s story like so many plays in the repertoire. “Albert Camus said that we should stand with those who experience history, not those who make it. In my opinion, Ludwig suffered as well. He was an isolated king, then forcibly deposed, died in exile under circumstances still unknown. Louis is not only heir to the throne; he is a victim being crushed by the system. »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Dany Boudreault
This disappointed king will defy the state of the world in 19th century Europe. The kingdom is at war when Louis ascends the throne and the young king opposes the policies of Chancellor Bismarck. “I see him as a great idealist with an immense thirst for the absolute. He has no children. He wants to leave a mark, a legacy of beauty. He financed the construction of a large theater specially designed for Wagner, which has now become the Bayreuth Festival Palace. And of course he had the famous fairytale castles built. Architectural marvels integrated into the nature of the Alps. In addition, the Bavarian castles remain the most visited tourist attraction in Germany,” explains the actor, who visited them last summer when he heard his lines.
Any suppressed desire can cause a person to become unstable. Towards the end of his life, Ludwig lived only at night and could not stand the light of day. He hides and fears the outside world. “There are connections to be made with the character of Blanche Dubois. Like Ludwig, the heroine of Tennessee Williams refuses to age and does not come out of puberty, from her obsessions. There’s also something of Michael Jackson’s Neverland in the Louis II universe. People who shut themselves up in their imaginations to escape from reality. In a dream world,” he concludes.
Director Claude Poissant leads an impressive cast. Alongside Dany Boudreault are Mikhaïl Ahooja, Félix Beaulieu-Duchesneau, Annick Bergeron, Frédéric Blanchette, Myriam Gaboury, Maxime Genois, Fabrice Girard, Daniel Parent and Mary-Lee Picknell.