The message in the piece is clear and easy to understand ten fourassembled in La Licorne, but it is conveyed above all through an engaging story mastered by actors at the height of the themes addressed.
Masterfully staged by Didier Lucien, who directs, this satire shows what systemic racism looks like in an entertaining form.
English-Canadian playwright Jason Sherman’s 2019 Toronto-based work chronicles the work of a team of screenwriters working to write a crime television series.
Pressured to deliver a pilot project that will please the ruthless producer, brilliantly interpreted by Marie-Hélène Thibault, the quartet bogs down on the boss’s conflicting demands.
Then an incident occurs that will change the course of the story: the only black man in the group is the victim of racial profiling by the police and wants to be inspired by this mishap when creating the scenario.
The latter, brilliantly played by Irden’s Exantus, however, faces the reluctance of the team leader, portrayed convincingly by Norman Helms.
Surrounding these two protagonists are an energetic, experienced screenwriter (Alexandre Fortin) and a green novice fighting for her place (Laura Amar).
Dynamic exchange
This dramatic comedy, skilfully translated by Jean-Marc Dalpé and staged for the first time in French, pulls the lines together at breakneck speed. Rooted in the spoken language, the sentences are short and lively.
So we see the actors interrupting each other or hesitating as in real life. Everything is delivered with aplomb from an extremely solid cast.
Didier Lucien offers touches of originality and madness with some scenographic elements that spice up the subject without detracting from the plot.
The question of racism, the power of power structures and conformism is intelligently raised in this foray into the television industry. Police brutality is also very secondary in this story.
This carefully crafted piece is ideal for those who don’t go to the theater often. Dynamic, relevant and well put together, it should appeal to a wide audience, including the most discerning.
► ten four will be presented at La Licorne until March 2nd.
ten four ★★★★1/2
Directed by Didier Lucien
With Laura Amar, Irdens Exantus, Alexandre Fortin, Norman Helms and Marie-Hélène Thibault