Gilles Renaud is about to step on the boards for the first time since the pandemic began, in the room Dear Chekhov by Michel Tremblay, which will be shown in May at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), his “favorite venue”.
The actor is closely associated with the work of the famous Quebec playwright, who has appeared in a dozen productions inspired by his writings over the past five decades.
Sa Dear Chekhovhe will once again slip into the skin of Jean-Marc, the alter ego of Michel Tremblay, whom he has already interpreted in plays. old smell at The hanging houseas well as in soap operas The uncovered heartbroadcast by Radio-Canada in 2003.
This time, more than the author’s alter ego Jean-Marc, he represents her speakersaid Gilles Renaud.
Once upon a time, it is a character called Jean-Marc, professor of literature, who hopes to one day write. While there, it’s actually Michel the writer who says he wrote a play a few years ago, but he didn’t finish it. He will read it again and we will see him on stage when he reads it againrefers to the actor.
Blank page syndrome
Takes the form of a mise en abyme, the skeleton of Dear Chekhov is based on the novel The heart on the shoulder, published in 2020, in which Michel Tremblay decided, during his stay in Florida, to continue creating a play written as a tribute to Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. A job he suspended a few years ago, when he encountered white page syndrome.
Directed by Serge Denoncourt, and also starring Anne-Marie Cadieux, Maude Guérin and Patrick Hivon, Dear Chekhov tells the story of a family of artists, who meet again one night in the countryside. The eldest sister, a famous actress, invited a theater critic for the occasion, the one who shot another member of the siblings three years ago, who was an author who failed to write .
It’s a piece with very good character; unique, unique moments […] We’re in Michel Tremblay’s head, that’s incredibleassured Gilles Renaud.
Michel Tremblay explained all his feelings while writing his play, asking himself questions about writing, about aging, about fear of being surprised, about relevance, usefulness, of writing theater of the play..
Public relations
On stage, Gilles Renaud will walk away from other actors and actresses, and regularly cross the fourth wall to speak directly to the crowd. I was in a single show, the others were in a play by Michel Tremblayhe explains.
A role he intends to play as simple as possible, without imitating.
For me, it was a character called Jean-Marc, a writer who wrote a play, everyone knew, despite everything, that it was Michel Tremblayhe concludes.
⁇ Dear Chekhov will be shown from May 3 to 28 at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (New window)
Source: Radio-Canada
