“Symphorion” at the Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne: As on TV

Forty-five years after its broadcast on Télé-Métropole, Symphorion Back to the Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne until August 14, funnier than ever.

As soon as the curtain opens, the audience is mesmerized by the setting, similar to the mythological TV series. The entryway decorated with stained glass windows, the stairs leading to the bedrooms, the small round table in the center of the hall and the closet with its sink are identical. It feels like we’re back in the late 1970s.

The new version, written by Pierre Huet and Louis Saya, successfully uses the codes installed by the original author, Marcel Gama, and is intended to be 270.^e An episode of the saga.

On stage we find a colorful cast of characters living in the rooming house of Madame Sylvain (Michel Labonte), where Symphorion (Francois Chenier) works as porter, always surrounded by his brother Efrem (Martin Héroux).

While the handsome doctor Jette retires, Mademoiselle Lesperance (Nathalie Mallet) remains an old maid and the king of funeral directors, Oscar Bellemare (Patrice Coquero), still woos her. the pain

Madame Sylvain, for her part, maintains an ambiguous relationship with the priest of Dolbeau, which has previously loved the youth, while Symphorion’s mother-in-law, Agathe Lamarre, settles down at home with her cat after liposuction on her legs. .

As in the TV series, the plot is thin and we are in for a festival of simple and basic words, but it works every time: “You have good working conditions. You get paid on the condition that you work!”, “We cannot be poor” or “I drink milk while cows eat grapes” were also among the memorable lines of the evening.

The interest of this production lies above all in the exceptional performance of the actors who understood the essence of the original series. Nathalie Mallet perfectly timed a Mademoiselle Lesperance more libidinous than ever. Every performance of his is delicious.

Patrice Coquero also faces the burlesque of Oscar Bellemare and the hilarious qualities of Agathe Lamarre, to whom he gives a more brutal and vengeful character.

As for Francois Chenier, he is a wonderful comparison to Gilles Latulippe, who played the role in the series. Everything is there: his walk, his habit of swaying on his feet, his hands in his pockets, his gestures and the way he talks.

Performance by Luis Saia and Pierre Seguin is effective and without dead time, sometimes the story drags on a bit too long.

Nostalgics will find their account full. Younger or those who haven’t experienced the series will be dazzled by so much talent.

the game Symphorion Definitely a summer staple.