An expected event if there ever was one, the premiere of the theatrical adaptation of the film Gaz Bar Blues got the crowds going wild at the Duceppe Theater on Thursday night.
With Martin Drainville (who takes on the role of François Brochu, aka “the Boss” played by Serge Thériault in the cinema), Miryam Amrouche, Claude Despins, Francis La Haye, Frédéric Lemay, Hubert Lemire, Steven Lee Potvin and Jean – François Poulin, this stage version of Gaz Bar Blues directed by Édith Patenaude and adapted by David Laurin, Co-Artistic Director of the Théâtre Duceppe, does full justice to the feature film released just 20 years ago, in 2003. bears the title of a very successful scenic implementation, which was given an important musical aspect, peppered with humor and emotion.
Louis Bélanger, director and screenwriter of the original Gaz Bar Blues, as well as part of the first cast of Gaz Bar Blues to hit the big screen, namely Marc Beaupré, Gilles Renaud, Gaston Lepage, Yves Bélanger, Roger Léger, Vincent Bilodeau, Emmanuel Bilodeau and Fanny Mallette and composer Guy Bélanger, the filmmaker’s brother, who signed the music at the time, were present on Thursday to celebrate this momentous moment. Serge Thériault, who is known to have avoided public appearances for several years, was not there.
Several other personalities, extremely curious to discover this reinterpretation of a jewel of our seventh art, also attended the performance, posing in front of the canvas of photographers installed in the foyer of the Théâtre Duceppe. See our photos below.
The Gaz Bar Blues play at Montreal’s Duceppe Theater through February 18 before touring Quebec. Visit the Duceppe website for more information.
Premiere of Gaz Bar Blues at the Duceppe Theater