Carl returns to Alma to be married fifteen years to the day since their father, a drunk and a poet, drowned. On the morning of the wedding, Victor takes his brothers on a trip to his isolated camp. On the way they have a tragic truck-wreck.
The Gazette : "...Down Dangerous Passes Road rises above, into the ethereal. And the Talisman Theatre production of this poetic work... does an admirable job of bridging the cultural gap that often hinders French-language Quebec plays..."— Pat Donnely, 2008‑11‑14.
Text / Texte : Michel Marc Bouchard;
Translator / Traduction : Linda Gaboriau;
Director / Mise en scène : Emma Tibaldo.
Carl returns to Alma to be married fifteen years to the day since their father, a drunk and a poet, drowned. On the morning of the wedding, Victor takes his brothers on a trip to his isolated camp. On the way they have a tragic truck-wreck.
Ambrose : Marcelo Arroyo;
Carl : Patrick Costello;
Victor : Graham Cuthbertson.
Set / Décor : Lyne Paquette;
Costumes / Costume : Lyne Paquette;
Lighting / Éclairage : David Perreault Ninacs, Sarah Yaffe;
Sound / Son : Michael Leon;
Video / Vidéo : Mireille Couture;
Movement / Mouvement : Rasili Botz.
A Talisman Theatre Equity Coop Production with the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage through IPOLC.
ACQT : "We are pleased to announce that our English-language premiere of Michel Marc Bouchard's Down Dangerous Passes Road, translated by Linda Gaboriau, won the 2008 ACQT prize in the category 'Théâtre anglophone'."— 2009‑10‑09. More / Plus...
AQCT : "Appreciably restrained, this show relied above all on the acting. Graham Cuthbertson, Marcelo Arroyo and Patrick Costello delivered sensitive, nuanced performances. In a set design as spare as it was evocative, their every move was charged with meaning. Talisman Theatre's skilful use of Shakespeare's language against contemporary French-language authors from Quebec may well help reunite the two solitudes." — Christian Saint-Pierre (President), 2009‑11‑03. More / Plus...
The Gazette : "Talisman Theatre won the Anglophone Theatre Prix de la critique award of the 2008-2009 season for its production of Michel-Marc Bouchard's Down Dangerous Passes Road, directed by Emma Tibaldo at Théâtre La Chapelle. It prevailed over Wajdi Mouawad's Scorched and Bryden MacDonald's With Baited Breath, both seen at Centaur Theatre."— Pat Donnely, 2009‑11‑03. More / Plus...
The Gazette : "As automobile accident plays go, Michel Marc Bouchard's Down Dangerous Passes Road rises above, into the ethereal. And the Talisman Theatre production of this poetic work, translated into English by Linda Gaboriau... does an admirable job of bridging the cultural gap that often hinders French-language Quebec plays from making a smooth transition into English [...] With this kind of play, less is more when it comes to staging. Lyne Paquette's set, which consists of giant sheets of parchment, with words scrawled in longhand, is just right. These 'pages' serve as screens for cinematic images that enhance the intense dramatic confrontations. In some ways this modest effort outshines the original French production... [...] Director Emma Tibaldo has delivered a meaningful introduction to a lesser work by the playwright..."— Pat Donnely, 2008‑11‑14. More / Plus...
Blog : "Dealing with mortality is an incredibly emotional experience; the use of language, imagery, physicality, and poetry delivered throughout the play is raw, forcing the audience to live through this experience with them. [...] three powerhouse performances are delivered... This is a powerful text and character-driven production; no need for any tricks or treats here."— Davyn Ryall, 2008‑11‑10. More / Plus...
Rover Arts : "Watching the clash of two very different theatre aesthetics--both the highs and the lows--makes for a fascinating 90 minutes. [...] Director Emma Tibaldo is most at ease with the naturalist elements offered by the text. The actors are riveted to each other, devouring their linesand spitting them back out with tremendous energy. [...] It won't be giving away the ending to report that Down Dangerous Passes Road is a cri de coeur for the sacred superiority of art, because at some level, that's what most contemporary Quebecois plays are about. Talisman's attack is bold and imaginative. Watching the dueling aesthetics, one has the feeling the effort of translation is in equal measure hopeless and essential, and therefore, quite a good reason for doing theatre."— Marianne Ackerman, 2008‑11‑14. More / Plus...
