More romantic relationships dissolve than stay together and the whirlwind of emotions exploding from a breakup can create some pretty dynamic theatre.
Daniel Cournoyer, artistic director of L'UniThéâtre is always scouting for energetic scripts. When he saw the original production of à la gauche de Dieu (But for the Grace of God) at the National Arts Centre in 2005, he knew it was a perfect fit for L'UniThéâtre's Edmonton audiences.
Penned by Sudbury francophone playwright Robert Marinier, this two-hander focuses on the clandestine affair between a real estate agent (Jöelle Prefontaine) and her lover (Patrick Creery).
“Everybody can relate to this on some level,” says Cournoyer, a former St. Albert son. “We all have a value system and moral standards. This institution is socially accepted and it is something that does happen more than we would like to admit.”
The two lovers, middle-class professionals each married to someone else, first begin their trysts at a home showing. Marinier structures the play into 10 linear episodes with the man and woman — they are never named — either beginning or ending one of their intimate meetings.
“These two people have a great attraction for each other. They are honest with each other and feel good,” Cournoyer says. “They know how to create justification in their minds, but eventually the lies become too big and they impact on their respective relationships.”
Legal’s own Prefontaine is delighted to step into the woman’s role. “I usually play a villain. This is a fantastic opportunity to play different emotions and there’s a lot of subtle nuances I get to explore,” she says.
Prefontaine describes her character as a family centred go-getter, a devoted, organized woman who wants everything in life. She refrains from making a moral judgment on the duo saying simply, “It’s just the curiosity that gets the better of them. They don’t know what they have until they almost lose it.”
Since the script is composed of a series of rendezvous, full nudity fits within the context of the play. While a lesser actress might cringe at exposing herself, Prefontaine says, “I feel super comfortable. I’m the character. I’m not Jöelle, and it’s sort of liberating. Society says you have to cover up and there’s a certain freedom in this.
“It’s a play that people either leave crying because it’s so close to home, or they become moved by the journey and the choices they make.”
Ă la gauche de Dieu runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
