Théâtre la Seizième is bringing the world premiere of its newest production, Le Soulier, to Studio 16, February 27 to March 9.
Written by award-winning Quebec playwright David Paquet, and directed by Esther Duquette and Gilles Poulin-Denis, Le Soulier is a dark comedy, full of touching and relatable characters trying very hard to be happy.
Melanie’s son Benoit, age 8, has a pain that won’t go away so she takes him to the dentist. This results in an epic meltdown, from the always difficult young man. Once in the dentist’s chair, the story unfolds and Benoit turns out to have a lot more than cavities inside his mouth. Melanie – with the help of a kind, alcoholic receptionist and a dentist who prefers plants to people – must face the fact that her son’s problems are much larger than a simple toothache.
David Paquet, recipient of the 2010 Governor General’s Award for French-language drama and the 2017 Prix Michel-Tremblay for his play Porc-épic, has written a hilarious and unsettling play in which empathy triumphs over illness. While on the surface Le Soulier is a whimsical comedy, the play is actually a drama about mental health issues, addressing an array of topics. Behavioural disorders, psychological suffering and the empathy it can inspire, exhaustion, and self-medication – are all dealt with in a light but dark and, most importantly, appropriate humour.
Le Soulier comes to the Studio 16 Stage, 1555 West 7th Ave, from Wednesday February 27, to Saturday March 9, 2019. Visit seizieme.ca for more information, showtimes and tickets.
Le Soulier will be presented with English surtitles every evening of the run except on Fridays.