Adieu au Goliard

Shakespeare’s Sonnets, by Infinithéâtre : staged fireworks

by Luc Archambault

            Shakespeare’s Sonnets : Transforming the Voices of Montréalwas played by Infinithéâtre under the direction of Guy Sprung, from October 23rd to October 27th at McGill’s Moyse Hall. This was a selection of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, roughly thirty-two of those jems. While the text remained unchanged, the scenography is modern and not stuffy at all. In spite of the language’s age, the modernity and actuality of the words are made concrete by the actors, all at their best, and soon coats over the distance century-wise. Which put a distint emphasis on the actuality of the barb’s vision and insight. A truly magnificent staged version.

            With a minimalist stage design, what propels the acting forward  is most definitely the usage of masks. All those seen onstage were created for the Royal Shakespeare Company in the fifties. Inspired by British commoners, each actor had to choose a single mask, thus becoming that « mask ». In that ritualistic process, each actor finds a deeper level of play, allowing the development of an improvisational creation in which one loses all links to rationality to better find in him/herself the irrationality behind the character incarnated, thus bridging the rift between past and contemporary universes. 

            With an all-star cast which included Shawn Campbell, Charles Bender, Amir Sám Nakhjavani, Carmen Grant, Mariah Inger, and Ellen David, Holly Gauthier-Frankel and Manouchka Elinor (three magnificent actresses who literally shone, even under their masks). 

            Even with the taken liberty of changing the pronouns of a sonnet, the presented work is so much in tune with today’s world it is uncanny. This « exploration » (to follow the director’s notes) is so rich and relevant to justify a significant following of upcoming works, plays, anything in fact done by Infinithéâtre. A most cultured company, for sure. The upcoming shows are Kafka’s Ape(from February 7th to February 27th) and Fight On ! (Part two) (March 21st to 24th). Not to be missed !