We are very excited to announce that in the spring of 2023, after celebrating its 100th outdoor pandemic performance, the LES ILLUSIONNISTES project is making its official big leap to the stage!

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"1927. Forced to replace his longtime stage partner three days before their show's grand premiere, a declining vaudeville performer, newly self-recycled as a magician, must contend with a moody, mocking new musician who comes to mess up a crucial presentation for an influential producer. ''

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Borrowing the codes of silent cinema and Backstage Musicals, this deconstruction of the cabaret magic repertoire and performance of a woman-orchestra with whimsical instruments (vibraphone, celtic harp, accordion,...) layered in electronic loops, a couple of telepaths invite all generations to this dysfunctional recital that is classic, self-deprecating and bewitching.

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In close collaboration with director and playwright Philippe Robert, set design Francis Farley, musician Andrée-Anne Roy and the world authority of modern magic Jim Steinmeyer, Marc-Alexandre Brûlé tackles a dynamic and compact "Magical" to blur the boundaries of our perceptions and prejudices and, under cover of the fascinating aesthetics of the Golden Age of Magic, to pursue rigorous research that questions the place of magic in contemporary circus.

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Interpretation:

Valérie Descheneaux

& Marc-Alexandre Brûlé

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Dramaturgy & staging:

Phillip Robert

(Théâtre Advienne Que Pourra, La Roulotte)

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Illusions & magic:

Jim Steinmeyer

(Beauty & The Beast, Mary Poppins, Aladdin)

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Scenography:

Francis Farley

( Cirque Éloize: Fiori-Seul Ensemble, Hotel, Saloon)

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Suits:

Jessica Poirier-Chang

(Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Stratford Festival)

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Lights:

Tristan-Olivier Breiding

(Les Deux Mondes)

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Produced with the invaluable support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Conseil des Arts de Montréal.

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And a huge thank you to Evelyne Chagnon at Diffusion Hector-Charland and the entire teams of Théâtre Alphonse-Desjardins in Repentigny and Théâtre Hector-Charland in L'Assomption, to Maryse Dumouchel from maison de la culture Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles and to Catherine Quintal, Valérie Charland and the whole team at Maison des Arts de Laval for hosting one of our six weeks of production residencies but especially for believing in the magic before anyone else. And our special thank you also to Laurence Lepage and Alain Larouche of Azimut Diffusion in Sorel for welcoming us in their programming for our Premiere.

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The show is eligible for the Destination Cirque – EnPiste financial support and Quebec/Canada Arts Council for national and international touring support. Mediation activities available.

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In memory of my dad, the real clown.