The Coronation Voyage
[1995] (Talonbooks, 1999)
Première lecture Cette traduction a été présentée en lecture publique, dans le cadre de «Interact 95», à Toronto, par le Factory Theatre et le CEAD, en 1995. Création Coproduction du Alberta Theatre Projects, de D. Michæl Dobbin Producing Director, et du Belfry Theatre (Victoria), à Calgary, dans le cadre de Pan Canadian playRites, le 29 janvier 2000 Traducteur(s) Linda Gaboriau (Auteur féminin) Nombre de personnages 14 Personnage(s), 6 Femme(s), 8 Homme(s), 14 Acteur(s) |  |
Original
- Original en français par Michel Marc Bouchard sous le titre de Le voyage du Couronnement [1994] (Leméac Éditeur, 1995)
- Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, septembre 1995
- Ce texte a été présenté en lecture publique par le CEAD, le 31 mars 1994.
Résumé
In May 1953, The Empress of France sets sail from Montreal. On the pretext of attending the celebrations marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, an important mafioso leaves for England where he secretly plans to live in exile with his two sons. Aboard this floating palace in the middle of the ocean, the petty lord of the Montreal underworld must face the most important decision of his dubious career: will he sacrifice his youngest son for a safe-conduct?
Plus d'informations »
- Décor: Aboard the majestic Canadian Pacific oceanliner, the Royal Mail Steamship Empress of France.
First class deck. Railing.
The Empress room (a table set for four.)
The smoking lounge. One of the main doors to the ballroom is ajar.
The Empress lounge.
- Caractéristiques des personnages: THE PASSENGERS
THE CHIEF. Mafioso. Father of Étienne and Sandro.
ÉTIENNE.* Twenty-five-year-old son of the Chief and Sandra's half-brother.
SANDRO. Thirteen-year-old son of the Chief and Etienne's half-brother.
THE BIOGRAPHER. The Chief's biographer.
THE DIPLOMAT. Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission in London. World War II veteran.
MARGUERlTE GENDRON. Pianist in her early twenties. Daughter of the Minister.
MINISTER JOSEPH GENDRON. Politician. Liberal Party Minister in the federal government.
ALICE GENDRON. The Minister's wife.
MADEMOISELLE LAVALLÉE. Protocol officer.
ELISABETH TURCOTTE, ÉLISABETH MÉNARD, and ELISABETH PENNINGTON. Young women in their twenties who have won a trip to London to attend the Coronation procession.
JEREMY and WILLY. Black, English-speaking stewards on the Empress of France.
* The Chief's oldest son was called Hyacinthe in the original French-language version.
Extrait
« THE DIPLOMAT : Your family's freedom in exchange for one night with your youngest son, Sandro. I usually meet my under-age lovers in dark, dirty places, in windowless cubbyholes. Cheerless faces. Sandro is clean and he smells good. / […] THE CHIEF : Is this some kind of joke? »
Revue de presse
"This is an ambitious undertaking (...) that tackles the themes of sacrifice and forgiveness, the
interpretation of history, the lost (i.e. sacrificed) generation, innocence, family and love."Jean
Beaunoyer, La Presse, September 23, 1995.
