Coming from the middle of the theater, Fabien Cloutier made a remarkable entry into humor in 2016 with his first comic show. Assume. After hosting four ComediHa! galas and writing five seasons of the series Lion, here he comes back with a new humorous proposal. In SensitiveThe comedian, humorist and author primarily wants to “oppose our consolation” with his character of “Bunten Fabien”, which is to be taken literally.
“It’s really about finding your comedian. It happens over time. I don’t know if I’m better than before. But I have more to do. »
In theater, Fabien Cloutier has presented several acclaimed creations including Scotstown (2008), Cranbourne (2011) and To Succeed a Chicken (2014). When he made the leap into comedy, the comedian-playwright knew he had to deliver the goods.
His first comedy one-man show Assume was very well received. Cloutier then presented a rather angry character who blamed the public for all of society’s ills. For his return to the stage this winter, this time he has chosen to drive the audience into his madness.
“I reserved my moments of anger for mundane things,” he says. It’s one of the keys for people to tell themselves that this case shouldn’t really upset me. Previously the character on stage was more in a position of “I’m right, you need to change”. Now I’ve made them more accomplices with me. »
create images
Written with Luc Boucher and Julien Corriveau, Délicat shows us a Fabien Cloutier who defies our convenience. “We’re told about global warming and stuff like that. There it is suddenly 4 degrees in February. We know it usually isn’t. But at the same time you tell yourself that 4 is more comfortable than minus 20. I like to play this person who sees global warming coming by getting a “good deal”. »
Because the theater man is never far away, Fabien Cloutier likes to create images when he is writing.
“I like the storytelling and people seeing things. I like that they stage in their heads. I like to tell a story about the guy with the goat and that they see the goat. »
When thinking of a title for his show, Fabien Cloutier looked for something that at first glance wouldn’t be associated with him. The Delicate title also gave him “full permissions”. “Will people say it’s a second degree afterwards? »
More comfortable
While Assume’s 130-concert tour sold around 50,000 tickets, Fabien Cloutier has already sold 50,000 tickets before the premiere of Délicat. “It’s quite a difference,” he notes.
The experience of recent years in humor has made him feel more comfortable getting back on the boards for the Délicat slump more quickly. “I found my pleasure faster,” he says.
The gap of more than six years between his two one-man shows can be explained in one word: Léo (see further text below). The series monopolized the author for five good years. And because he’s a father to two teenagers, he doesn’t want to get too involved in different projects at the same time.
“I don’t want to walk. It’s one of the possibilities. Since I’m on tour, I won’t do two series at the same time. My quiet days are often Mondays and Tuesdays. I try not to add anything to myself during these times. My life is also the gang I choose to spend it with. »
► The show Sensitive, by Fabien Cloutier, will be presented March 21-22 at Club Soda in Montreal. On April 17th and 18th, it will also pass through the Salle Albert-Rousseau in Quebec. fabiencloutier.com.
The touching end out of line Lion after five seasons
Last November, Fabien Cloutier said goodbye to the Léo Series team. According to the author, the fifth and final season, which will be released on Club illico in winter 2024, will end on a positive note that viewers should enjoy.
“The circle, we have closed it. I think the fifth season will please the world. We take a small step back. We’ll see the characters that we’ve seen in the previous four seasons. I think it will be a very nice candy, a very nice dessert. Yes, there will be emotions, but I wanted to keep it positive. »
Was it difficult for him to leave his colleagues he had only worked with for five years?
“There were several small bereavements,” he replies. During filming, we began to see actors coming for the last time. The further it went, the more it became. We felt the final coming. It was a very, very nice bunch. It’s a big piece to leave behind, a very nice project. I haven’t often given something five years. »
New Celebrity
Léo’s success at Club illico and TVA also made Fabien Cloutier a household name. Even though he had been part of the Beaux Malaises adventure, it really was Leo who changed his celebrity.
Photo Jocelyn Michel, byconsulate.com
“Of course there are differences. There is still someone who says to me from time to time “Martin Matte’s brother!”. But “Leo” is said to me almost every day. I know there are people who really embraced it. There are people who would like to have him as a friend. »
“Literature can really be extraordinary. During the first season I had people writing to me saying that the character of Leo was them, that I had made them wake up and kick their own ass. Some even told me that Leo saved their lives. […] People recognized themselves in the series. They felt respected in their mistakes, in their contradictions and in their hopes. »
Fabien Cloutier likes hunting and fishing more than red carpets and says he’s fine with his recent fame.
“I’m glad to have experienced this at my age [il a 47 ans]. […] I’ve been working in the shadows for quite a long time. I wasn’t unhappy. I’m happy to do the cover [du cahier week-end du Journal], but that was not my purpose in life. My goal was to do my job, to write, to play all of that. I always create. When public and environmental recognition gives me the tools to create, it makes me happy. »
► Leo’s fourth season is nominated for The Olivier Galapresented on Sunday Night, in the Comedy Fiction Series of the Year category.
A happy family life with his mistress and his two teenagers
Fabien Cloutier has been happily in love with songwriter Maude Audet for almost 20 years. Since you tour a lot of shows for work, how do you manage to balance family life with your 14 and 16 year old kids?
“We have a well-organized schedule,” Fabien replies with a smile. Our young people are able to be independent. It’s easier than before. It makes lunch, it takes the bus. »
Fabien adds that since he sometimes leaves home for three consecutive days, he makes sure he is fully present in mind and body when he returns to his family.
“There are people who work from 8 to 5, but they don’t spend the evening with their children. They each have their own dinner. They’re in the same house, but they’re not together. When I’m at home I discuss, we question each other. I have an open relationship. »
Even though their two professions are unstable, Fabien Cloutier admits that he has never been questioned. “We have always been creative. We’ve always said we do what we love. We made children [en n’étant] Poor. We always made it.”
Quebec-Montreal
Their family life changed dramatically the day they decided to leave Quebec City and settle in Montreal eight years ago. “I started working more and more in Montreal and I wasted so much time traveling,” says Fabien. If you do the 20 two to three times a week, those hours are wasted. »
Do your children have the same artistic flair as your parents?
“Maybe, but I don’t force it,” replies Fabien. It took me a while myself to think that maybe I could do it [dans la vie]. It is certain that they have a basis, that they see things. But if they choose to do so, they will begin to be “the child of,” which Maude and I didn’t have. It has to be done very quietly. They will do what they want! »