Yvon Deschamps’ work will soon be in the spotlight on a brand new variety show, which the 88-year-old agreed to take part in before withdrawing entirely.
The first in a series of large-scale shows focusing on the legacy of various artists, Yvon Deschamps tells us that “La Shop” will be a humorous musical story based on the lyrics, songs and universe of the father of Quebec comedians .
Yvon Deschamps was in top form on Wednesday at the Place des Arts during the announcement of the show “Yvon Deschamps Tells La Shop”. TOMA ICZKOVITS
“The shop is not a series of monologues,” warned project leader and director Jean-François Blais when announcing this new exhibition on Wednesday morning at the Place des Arts.
Around twenty artists of all kinds (musicians, circus performers, puppeteers, dancers) and actors will take to the stages of this retro-futuristic “shop”, which will be reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin’s factory, where around twenty Quebec musical hits such as My Country, At Human Level , The Cursed Machine and The Two Pianos will advance the story.
Yvon Deschamps, who will act as narrator, will also appear six or seven times in the play with video clips shot in the style of Chaplin’s film “Modern Times”, the script of which he reluctantly participated in.
Jean-François Blais and Yvon Deschamps. TOMA ICZKOVITS
“They forced me,” the retired comedian initially joked.
“When Jean-François approached me, his show was already very structured, with some monologues that, like my first character, tell the story of a life in the store. [Les unions, qu’ossa donne?] until the boss dies, and with songs. They told me: “You won’t have anything to do,” said Yvon Deschamps, initially in a mocking tone.
“Afterwards they told me that there would be some involvement where I would have to do interventions that they would write and that I would just have to read… Hey no!” he then shouted, pretending to be offended.
“So we worked on writing together and [j’ai appris les textes] by heart,” he continued, laughing.
The show’s lyrics are all taken from the monologue material presented in the first part of his career, from 1969 to 1973. We will find there in four parts “the man from the workshop” who expresses his admiration for the “boss” despite the exploitation in his daily life. We also promise a few references to L’Osstidcho and the time when he was Claude Léveillée’s drummer.
Jean-François Blais, Yvon Deschamps and Nicolas Lemieux from GSI Musique. TOMA ICZKOVITS
The comedian also admitted on Wednesday that despite the years, that era and his monologues are always deeply present in him. “It’s in my soul. I won’t go back to it, it’s there,” he said.
In a time when industrialization and workers are being replaced by machines, assembly lines and artificial intelligence, the musical and humorous story raises some questions about dreams, love and death. We will also find the friends, the little one at home and the wife.
The show also marks the beginning of a new division of record company GSI Musique, Balyse Productions, which will develop television projects and produce unique shows.
Yvon Deschamps bursts into laughter during a conversation with his lifelong accomplice Judi Richards. TOMA ICZKOVITS
Under the musical arrangements of Antoine Gratton, the show Yvon Deschamps narrates La Shop will premiere in Montreal in the fall of 2024.
To get tickets, click here.