24 poses (portraits)

They admire the new lawnmower, rehash the same old stories, squabble over trivial details and grab the Kodak to capture the moment (with the lawnmower, of course). Nicole has brought out the plastic tablecloth and chips, André tells the same lame jokes no one gets, Carole shows off her new dress, and they all laugh at how their parents once again wound up in Old Québec on the way there. Everyone is talking non-stop, all at once. But beneath the cheerful buzz, a drama is playing out, virtually undetected for the time being. Amid this tragicomic chaos emerges the portrait of a Québec family like so many others, with all that goes unsaid, all that’s implied… and all that’s just swept under the rug. 

We have Guylaine Tremblay to thank for the idea of restaging this landmark play in contemporary Québec theatre, having been part of the creation of 24 poses (portraits) in 1999. Directed by Édith Patenaude, this time the actor plays the role of Claire, the mother, while Martin Drainville plays Denis, the father. The duo portrays the quiet strength of a clan with familiar archetypes, never veering into caricature, alongside a cast chosen for their ability to deliver the hyper-realistic, up-tempo language of Serge Boucher. With his unique, surgical and hard-hitting voice, the creator of the TV series Aveux, Beyond Appearances and Fires captures the fragility of daily life and the imperfect beauty of family relationships. In 24 poses (portraits), he draws a tender, vivid portrait – one that is downright funny and moving – of a loving, but tactless family, which everyone will be able to relate to.