Backless naked | The return of the eternal freelancers

The press saw in July the rehearsals of the new spectacle of the eternal freelancers, Brandish. A comedy with sketches “existentialist, on the meaning of the universe”, signed by the author Pierre-Michel Tremblay. Almost a decade after Why are you crying …? At the TNM, this production of the Concertium agency marks the return of the quartet of performers who will present its creation on tour in Quebec.

The troop the eternal freelancers was born in 1996, when the actor Patrice Coquereau – who has left the company since – had the idea of bringing together actors in the theater just for the happiness of working together. Three decades later, Isabelle Vincent, Christian Bégin, Marie Charlebois and Pier Paquette find “their square of sand” with as much madness, and happiness, as at the beginning of the collective of creation.

The press joined them, by a beautiful afternoon in July, in the rehearsal room above the Denise-Pelletier theater in Montreal. A few weeks after his sudden departure, the luminous presence of Claude Poissant always seems to live in space … While the quartet of performers is refining his next show, under the direction of Cédrik Lapratte-Roy, a young director who naturally grafted the group of sixties.

“We work hard in collaboration, and we have a lot of fun. The members of the eternal have the same working dynamics as me, the same kind of humor that I cultivate with my own company, “says the director, referring to the theater the least (Slipping terrain, In the Fred-Barry room, in 2024).

Human tragicomedia

For almost 30 years, the shows of the eternal freelancers have explored human relations with humor and gravity. “Their parts are characterized by authentic dialogues and an ability to approach deep themes lightly. […] To highlight the contradictions and complexities of human nature, often with a touch of self-mockery, ”says one on the company’s website.

With Brandishthe quartet returns to its first love. He created a tragicomic sketch room, whose subject married seriousness and irreverence. The themes of the news are discussed with a juvenile, even burlesque angle. “We have as much pleasure as at the beginning,” says Christian Bégin. Even if – and I speak here in my personal name – it’s more stressful to play the theater as you get older. I have the impression that it will complete a loop. We’re going to celebrate our 30th birthday next year. »»

Pleasure of playing

After staging five shows from the company, the actress Marie Charlebois decided to pass the torch to Cédrik Lapratte-Roy. A director who, at 31, tackles theater and creation with the same mentality as the co -founders of the eternal. For what ? “Because I needed to have fun as an actress, to find the pleasure of playing only, without having responsibility for staging on my shoulders. I loved directing the previous shows. However, I needed to take care of the actress this time, ”explains Charlebois.

As for Isabelle Vincent and Pier Paquette, they believe that their friendly collaboration is improving with time and experience. “What I like is that we start [un sketch] With big existential questions that we all ask ourselves in a life. Then, very quickly, we realize that this is not the evening where we will solve all the problems of the world … And we move on by laughing, “concludes backpack before returning to repeat with his eternal accomplices.

Brandish

By Pierre-Michel Tremblay. Directed Cédrik Lapratte-Roy. With Marie Charlebois, Christian Bégin, Isabelle Vincent and Pier Paquette.

From August 14 to 23 at the theater the Patriot of Sainte-Agathe, then on tour in the fall

Consult the site of the eternal freelancers