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Strawberries in February
Winter getting you down? Théâtre la Seizième offers you a glimpse of spring with Evelyne de la Chenelière’s Des fraises en janvier (Strawberries in January). Produced by Théâtre la Seizième, this delicious romantic comedy will be presented at Studio 16 from February 18 to March 1, 2014, with English surtitles on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Tickets are available online, or by phone at 604.736.2616.
Julie Trépanier © Julie Artacho
Gilles Poulin-Denis and Julie Trépanier © Julie Artacho
Sophie and François wander between love and friendship. They like each other, but don’t want to commit. As Lea, freshly arrived from the countryside, looks for her friend Sophie in the city, François introduces his former lover to Robert, who already knows Lea quite… intimately. Things just get out of hand from there, with our four singletons alternately lying and telling the truth about how they feel and who they are, all in the name of love. And between the reality of these four lives and the script that François is writing, who can tell what’s real and what’s not?
Created at Théâtre la Moluque in Carleton in 1999, Des fraises en janvier has charmed audiences and critics alike with a fresh, ingenious take on love. Woven with humour and sensibility, the author of Bashir Lazar avoids cliches and sentimentality in offering us a story rife with delightful detours and theatrical turnarounds, while echoing some of the great romantic stories of our times. Translated into English, Italian, and German, this play has now been performed 19 times in 7 different countries.
Craig Holzschuh directs actors Joey Lespérance, Julie McIsaac, Gilles Poulin-Denis and Julie Trépanier in bringing to life the four lead characters, using designs by frequent Théâtre la Seizième collaborators Jeremy Baxter, Mishelle Cuttler and Drew Facey. The Stage Manager is Susan Miyagishima.
EXCERPTS FROM THE PRESS
« … a happy play (…) think Amelie with a dash of light therapy, in the dead of winter. You’ll feel like singing as you leave. » – La Presse, Montreal
« A young play, invigorating (…) it’s delicious, malicious, dizzying. » – Première chaîne, Radio-Canada
« … is as mouth-watering as its title. » – The Gazette, Montreal
ABOUT THÉÂTRE LA SEIZIÈME
Founded in 1974, Théâtre la Seizième is the only French language, professional theatre company in BC. Every year, Théâtre la Seizième presents a mainstage season, a young audiences season, a series of drama workshops and a training and dramaturgical
development program for local artists. By continuing to produce, present and commission engaging Canadian works, Théâtre la Seizième is a dynamic leader in Western Canadians’ cultural and artistic life. Over the years, the company has positioned itself as a major creation and presentation centre on the national cultural landscape.
