The room presents itself in a playful atmosphere The mutants offers the perspective of those born in the 1970s and early 1980s and belong to the end of Generation X, long characterized by a future blocked by the baby boomers.
This production, staged at the Center du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, looks back on their past, their hopes, their observations and unusual themes, introducing a group of forty-year-olds who find themselves on the benches of a fictional school.
In a series of paintings, they take part in amusing competitions in which they present their ideas using formulas invented or repeated by famous people, from Marguerite Yourcenar to Réjean Ducharme to Bernard Drainville.
This crazy show doesn’t necessarily tell a story, but rather opens doors into the souls of the twelve protagonists. Even if they are not so developed, these characters are made good by Amélie Bonenfant, Sébastien Dodge, Rose-Maïté Erkoreka, Mathieu Gosselin, Sharon Ibgui, Anne-Marie Levasseur, Lise Martin, Nicolas Michon, Olivia Palacci, Éric Paulhus and Simon Rousseau embodied and Sophie Cadieux. The latter signs the text accompanied by Sylvain Bélanger, who also directs.
Lots of originality
For these two playwrights, this is a new collaboration focused on speaking out, inspired by the school system that created the play “Mutants” on the same basis a dozen years ago.
This exhibition offers a large space for ideas and artists through formulas presented by these “students” who deliver tirades about Quebec nationalism, but also more incongruous objects such as crossbow hunting and lightning.
The public is treated to exciting stories, particularly about the appearance of computers in Quebec homes and the existence of a movement to bind Quebec to the United States, but certain topics are left out in the cold.
Despite the originality of some topics, their innumerable quantity and sequence of shocking sentences can sometimes make you dizzy. It’s difficult to take in everything because the protagonists constantly switch from rooster to donkey. These paintings offer some moments of sensitivity and reflection, but not enough to leave a lasting impression. Fortunately, this proposal is characterized by a dynamism and humor that partially compensate for the lack of interest caused by the substantive questions.
► The piece Mutants is presented at the Center du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui until October 14th.
Mutants ★★★1⁄2
- Director: Sylvain Bélanger